Ahmedabad Records 38.4% Drop in PM10 Pollution, Surat Leads Gujarat With 39.2% Reduction
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Ahmedabad recorded a 38.4% reduction in PM10 pollution in 2025-26 compared with 2017-18, while Surat registered a 39.2% decline, according to government data highlighting improvements in air quality across major Gujarat cities. Ahmedabad’s average PM10 concentration fell from 164 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in 2017-18 to 101 µg/m³ in 2025-26. Surat recorded a sharper reduction, with levels dropping from 130 µg/m³ to 79 µg/m³ over the same period.
Rajkot reported a 37.3% decline in PM10 concentrations, from 150 µg/m³ to 94 µg/m³, while Vadodara recorded a 16.5% reduction, with levels falling from 133 µg/m³ to 111 µg/m³.
Gujarat Cities Record Improvements in Air Quality
The figures compare PM10 concentrations in 2025-26 with baseline levels recorded in 2017-18, showing varying improvements across Gujarat’s major cities. Surat recorded the highest reduction at 39.2%, followed by Ahmedabad at 38.4% and Rajkot at 37.3%, while Vadodara registered a comparatively smaller decline of 16.5%. PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less and is a key indicator used to assess air pollution levels.
Bareilly Tops National List With 69.6% Reduction
At the national level, Bareilly recorded the highest reported improvement in PM10 concentrations, with a 69.6% reduction.
Kohima followed with a 63% decline, while Firozabad recorded a 60.3% reduction. Dehradun reported a 59.6% improvement, and Kanpur registered a decline of 58.1%.
The figures place Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot among the Gujarat cities reporting substantial reductions against their 2017-18 baseline levels.
Government Measures to Curb Urban Air Pollution
The central and state governments have introduced multi-sectoral measures under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to address urban air pollution.
To tackle vehicular emissions, the measures include the nationwide adoption of Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards, promotion of electric vehicles and the installation of Vapor Recovery Systems at petrol pumps.
Industrial pollution controls include Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS), updated industrial discharge standards and requirements for brick kilns to transition to zig-zag technology.
The government has also enforced revised Construction and Demolition Waste Management and Solid Waste Management rules. These measures aim to strengthen waste segregation, curb open burning and require dust mitigation at construction sites.
The reported PM10 reductions reflect changes in average concentrations between 2017-18 and 2025-26, alongside the implementation of measures targeting emissions from transport, industries, construction and waste management.
