GHMC reviewed Hyderabad’s air quality, directing departments to coordinate NCAP steps for critical hotspots
Hyderabad: GHMC Additional Commissioner C.N. Raghuprasad said government departments must work together to improve air quality in the city. He chaired the City Level Monitoring and Implementation Committee meeting on Friday at the GHMC head office under the National Clean Air Programme. Moreover, officials from the three traffic commissionerates, the Telangana Pollution Control Board, TSRTC, HMRL, Civil Supplies, the Transport Department, TSIIC, EPTRI and CPCB joined the review.
The committee studied hotspot data and looked at progress under the city action plan. It also discussed steps to reduce road dust, check vehicle emissions, control industrial pollution and manage debris waste. In addition, the members reviewed efforts to expand green cover and monitor major construction sites in real time. Raghuprasad said stronger coordination was essential because the city needed faster gains in air quality.
Air quality review flags key hotspots
TPCB scientists Dr Prasad Dasari and N. Jayashree suggested short-term and long-term actions at priority hotspots. They named Punjagutta, the Patancheru Corridor, the Charminar–Nampally Heritage Zone, the Hitec City Transit Corridor and the MGBS–Secunderabad Station route as areas needing quick action. Furthermore, the committee decided to add more electric buses on busy roads to cut pollution. It also agreed to replace regular autorickshaws with electric three-wheelers to support better air quality.
Raghuprasad said vehicles must carry valid PUC certificates, and he noted that checks on old vehicles would increase. He added that new foot-overbridges and pelican signals planned for Telecomm Nagar and Indiramma Nagar would help reduce congestion. Besides this, he urged citizens to give construction waste to authorised GHMC agencies such as Ramky and Soma Srinivas Reddy at low rates. He said recycled building materials should see wider use at work sites.
He warned that burning plastic or municipal waste in public places would face strict action. Moreover, officials agreed to bring in cleaner-air technology and speed up NCAP work. They asked citizens to request debris-waste removal through the toll-free numbers 1800-120-1159 and 1800-203-0033 or through the GHMC website.