Amid concerns about deteriorating air quality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to issue tenders for the installation of five new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). These tenders are expected to be floated by early February 2025, with strategic locations for the new stations to be decided based on recommendations from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

Currently, Mumbai has 25 air quality monitoring stations, 11 of which are managed by the MPCB, nine by SAFAR, and five by the BMC. The five BMC-operated stations are located in Byculla, Sewri, Ghatkopar, Shivaji Nagar, and Kandivali.

To address pollution levels, the BMC plans to procure five more CAAQMS systems. While the exact locations for these stations are still under review, the officials are focusing on areas where the BMC lacks its own monitoring systems.

A senior civic official said, "We are preparing the tenders and expect to float them by February. The entire tendering process is likely to be completed by May, with installation expected soon after."

CAAQMS systems provide continuous monitoring of air quality by collecting pollutant data through filter paper, which measures trapped particulate matter. The new stations will be deployed based on MPCB recommendations.