AdminIIT‑Kanpur has just rolled out Mumbai’s first large‑scale IoT‑based Air-Quality Monitoring Network, dubbed MANAS (Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences), promising citywide, neighbourhood‑level air quality data that could drive real‑time policy decisions.
Background / Context
In recent years, Mumbai’s smog levels have spiked, with the Delhi–NCR corridor now struggling to achieve the national Air Quality Index (AQI) target of 40. The city’s existing network of 30 pollution‑monitoring sensors has been criticized for its coarse spatial coverage: an average sensor represents a 25‑square‑kilometre area, leaving pockets of intense pollution invisible to authorities and residents alike. This data gap has hampered timely interventions, especially for vulnerable groups such as students, migrants, and the elderly. Amid growing public scrutiny and global climate commitments, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) and IIT‑K have collaborated to bridge this gap, reflecting a national push towards data‑driven environmental governance.
Key Developments
MANAS will launch with 75 new, solar‑powered Ministations that are both cost effective (Rs 50,000 per unit versus Rs 1.5 crore for conventional sensors) and energy independent. Together with the existing 30 traditional units, the network will cover nearly 1,000 sampling points, giving a resolution of roughly 5 square kilometres per sensor across the 650‑sq‑km city.
- IoT and AI integration: Each ministation streams real‑time particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), CO₂, O₃, and NO₂ readings to a central cloud platform that uses machine‑learning models to predict pollution spikes up to 48 hours ahead.
- Solar power: Mini‑solar panels and battery banks make the stations self‑sufficient, eliminating the need for expensive grid connections or cooling systems.
- Open data: The platform will publish anonymized, neighbourhood‑level AQI dashboards accessible to researchers, students, and app developers via APIs.
- Scalable architecture: Designed to accommodate future expansion to 200 stations, potentially covering underserved suburbs and satellite towns.
“By enabling affordable, ward‑level and neighbourhood‑level air‑quality monitoring integrated with advanced analytics, we are strengthening our ability to design targeted, timely interventions,” said BMC Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani during the launch ceremony on December 3, 2025. Deputy Municipal Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Avinash Kate, added, “Real‑time data will accelerate emergency responses, whether it’s a vehicular smog burst or a forest fire smoke plume reaching the city.
Impact Analysis
For residents, especially students and working professionals who commute daily, the implications are significant. Accurate, hyper‑local AQI updates will inform when it’s safe to travel, when schools should switch to online classes, or when hospitals need to deploy air‑conditioning resources.
Key impact points include:
- Health‑risk reduction: Public health advisories will be based on actual data, reducing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- Educational research: Universities can leverage the API for environmental studies, student projects, or public policy courses.
- Urban planning: City planners will have granular data to optimise traffic flow, green spaces, and industrial zoning.
- Economic incentives: Cleaner air supports tourism and high‑tech business hubs; businesses may see lower worker absenteeism and higher productivity.
Already, BMC is partnering with Delhi NCR’s Clean Mumbai Initiative to roll out a citywide “Air Alert” mobile app that nudges citizens about safe routes and times.
Expert Insights / Tips
Prof. Sachchida Nand Tripathi, dean of the Kotak School of Sustainability at IIT‑K and head of the ATMAN Centre of Excellence, emphasized the role of data in policymaking.
“You cannot solve a problem that you cannot measure. With MANAS, we can identify hot‑spots, deploy resources, and measure the effectiveness of interventions in real time,” he said.
Student and community groups should consider the following steps to make the most of the new network:
- Use the API: Students studying environmental sciences or data analytics can access raw sensor data for thesis work.
: Municipalities can embed neighbourhood dashboards on ward websites to enhance transparency. - Adopt smart city frameworks: Local businesses can integrate air‑quality data with IoT devices (e.g., smart HVAC) for energy‑efficiency.
- Lobby for policy incentives: Communities can request subsidies for installing air purifiers or green roofs in high‑pollution wards.
Public advocacy groups can use the data to hold polluting industries accountable, while developers can design app features that warn users of toxic air conditions during commute planning.
Looking Ahead
MANAS is projected to be fully operational by the end of 2026, with a phased expansion plan to cover all 72 municipal wards by 2028. The BMC intends to integrate the data with national initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Smart Cities Mission, creating a holistic environmental monitoring ecosystem.
International students arriving in Mumbai will find the city’s improved air‑quality transparency attractive, especially those pursuing studies in environmental engineering, public health, or data science. As the network scales, academic institutions could partner with IIT‑K to offer joint research grants and fieldwork opportunities.
Additionally, the open‑data policy may spur a developer boom: startups can build niche applications—from predictive health risk dashboards to indoor air‑quality monitors that sync with MANAS data—creating a new tech ecosystem centered around environmental wellbeing.
Finally, the collaboration showcases India’s commitment to climate resilience. By monetising low‑cost IoT, the initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement and India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). If successful, Mumbai could become a flagship example for other megacities in India and across the developing world.
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