Hyderabad: Hyderabad air pollution has emerged as the worst among southern metro cities, according to data released by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board.
Although the city’s air quality appeared better than Delhi and Mumbai, officials said Hyderabad performed poorly when compared with southern metros. PCB officials revealed the findings during an Air Pollution Index seminar held in the city on Thursday.
As per World Health Organisation norms, PM-10 levels should remain within 40 micrograms. However, Hyderabad recorded PM-10 levels ranging between 82 and 88 micrograms.
This meant residents were inhaling nearly double the safe pollution levels. Even against the Central Pollution Control Board limit of 60 micrograms, the city exceeded norms by nearly 35 per cent.
Officials said Hyderabad did not record a single day of ‘clean air’ throughout last year. Air Quality Index levels largely remained in the ‘moderate’ or ‘satisfactory’ categories.
Hyderabad air pollution hotspots and rising health concerns
In January this year, PM-10 levels touched a peak of 105 micrograms. Officials said this highlighted the growing toxicity in the city’s air.
Due to rising vehicle density, authorities identified seven major pollution hotspots. These included Khairatabad–Kothi, Jeedimetla, BHEL–Ameerpet, Nampally–Charminar, Mehdipatnam–HITEC City–Kukatpally, Secunderabad–Sainikpuri, and LB Nagar–Kothi.
PCB officials said these areas required targeted interventions to improve air quality. They added that traffic congestion remained a key contributor.
Apart from vehicles, officials said construction activity on the city’s outskirts and industrial emissions worsened air pollution levels. Doctors warned that higher PM-10 exposure could trigger respiratory and lung-related illnesses.
Health experts cautioned that air quality could deteriorate further unless electric vehicle usage increased in the coming years.