The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed an Rs 11.28-crore contract to independently inspect air-quality monitoring systems installed at construction sites across Mumbai. The three-year exercise is expected to cover 9,000 monitors, with 3,000 devices scheduled for inspection annually.
The civic body has proposed appointing Mahabal Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd for the assignment. The audit will assess the equipment’s functioning, sensor calibration, accuracy of pollution readings and transmission of data to the BMC’s central monitoring dashboard. Mobile audit vans equipped with reference-grade instruments will also be used to cross-check readings recorded by construction-site sensors.
The proposal follows a Bombay High Court order issued on January 9, 2025, directing the installation of sensor-based air-quality monitors at construction sites and their integration with a central monitoring system. The court had warned that violations could invite show-cause notices and suspension of construction activities.
The BMC subsequently made sensor-based monitors and LED display boards compulsory at construction sites. However, concerns have emerged over the reliability of the figures displayed. Environmental activist Sumaira Abdulali and Awaaz Foundation highlighted differences between construction-site readings and data available on the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER application. Some monitors reportedly displayed zero or unusually low pollution levels even when nearby stations recorded higher particulate matter concentrations.
The BMC has clarified that construction-site sensor data is tracked through a separate dashboard and excluded from public AQI reporting because its reliability remains uncertain.
Congress group leader in the BMC, Ashraf Azmi, has questioned the proposed audit’s coverage, inspection frequency and delay in implementation. He has also sought clarity on action against developers if equipment is found defective or non-functional.
The tender was issued in July 2026, and four bids were received. Mahabal Enviro Engineers emerged as the lowest bidder after two applicants qualified technically. Its quote was negotiated down from Rs 11.33 crore to Rs 11.28 crore.
The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the BMC Standing Committee. The contract has not yet been formally awarded.
Source: Prop News Time
