November 27, 2025: With several pockets in Mumbai consistently reporting deteriorating air quality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is actively examining the enforcement of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures. The move comes amid rising concerns over worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across the city. During a meeting held on November 25 and chaired by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the civic administration discussed the possibility of invoking GRAP protocols to counter the escalating pollution levels.
GRAP, designed by the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM), outlines a multi-stage response mechanism to tackle worsening pollution. The plan includes stringent actions such as halting construction work, restricting vehicle entry into city limits, and reducing vehicular movement in affected areas. Officials noted that if Mumbai registers AQI levels above 200 for three consecutive days, the implementation of GRAP may become necessary. Additionally, if specific locations continue to show persistently poor readings, targeted measures—including suspension of construction activity—will be introduced locally.
On Wednesday, 10 of Mumbai’s 21 monitoring stations registered poor air quality. Mazgaon recorded the worst AQI at 269, followed by 265 in Mulund, 250 in Malad and Borivali, 214 in Powai, 205 in Andheri, and 204 in Deonar. Only one station reported satisfactory air quality, while the city’s overall AQI stood at 189, classified as moderate. Several neighbourhoods have faced prolonged pollution episodes—Mazgaon has seen 11 days of poor AQI this month, Deonar 14 days, and Malad 12 days.
“We are compiling data on the number of construction works that are underway in these locations. By tomorrow morning, we will issue an SOP as a mitigation measure against the bad AQI,” an official told the Indian Express. Notices have already been sent to construction sites mandating the installation of hyperlocal AQI sensors to ensure dust-control compliance.
Experts attributed the worsening conditions to seasonal wind patterns. “Once the temperature starts dropping, the wind pattern gets slowed down, due to which the suspended particulate matter stays trapped in the atmosphere for a prolonged period of time,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of meteorology at Skymet Weather. He added that the withdrawal of monsoon has eliminated natural atmospheric cleansing, causing AQI levels to fall sharply.
