The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved an Rs 11.28-crore contract to independently inspect sensor-based air quality monitoring systems installed at construction sites across Mumbai. The three-year exercise aims to assess the accuracy, reliability and technical performance of approximately 9,000 monitors.
The proposal received clearance from the civic standing committee on Wednesday. Under the arrangement, 3,000 installations will be examined annually, with checks covering equipment calibration, compliance with technical specifications, accuracy of recorded readings and real-time data transmission to the BMC’s central monitoring dashboard.
The initiative follows a Bombay High Court directive issued on January 9, 2025, during a suo motu public interest litigation concerning air pollution. The court had instructed that sensor-based air quality monitors be installed at all construction sites in Mumbai and connected to a central monitoring platform. It had also indicated that sites violating prescribed norms could face show-cause notices or suspension of construction activities.
Although the civic administration has made progress in installing the equipment and connecting it to the central system, the BMC believes an independent assessment is necessary to establish whether the monitors are functioning accurately and transmitting dependable information.
The three-year contract, excluding the monsoon period, has been awarded to Mahabal Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd, which emerged as the lowest bidder following negotiations.
The BMC had initially estimated the project cost at Rs 11.10 crore, while the company submitted a quotation of Rs 11.33 crore, approximately 2.10% above the estimate. After discussions held on October 12, the contractor reduced its bid by 0.49% to Rs 11.28 crore.
Meanwhile, the Congress raised concerns over the delay in initiating the tender process, pointing out that nearly 22 months had passed since the High Court’s directive.
Group leader Ashraf Azmi also questioned whether inspecting 3,000 installations annually would allow the appointed agency to conduct sufficiently detailed assessments and ensure effective monitoring.
The audit is expected to strengthen oversight of construction-related pollution and improve the reliability of Mumbai’s air quality monitoring network.
Source: Hindustan Times
