How Kolkata improved its air quality within 6 years

Over a span of six years, Kolkata has demonstrated aremarkable turnaround in its air quality, transforming from one of the most polluted cities in the country in 2019 to being nationally recognised for its improved environmental standards in 2025.This progress has earned the city the third-highest performance-based incentive from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.In 2019, Kolkata was listed among the Top 10 most polluted cities by the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).At the time, the city’s annual average PM10 level was recorded at 100 micrograms per cubic meter.Additionally, the annual average AQ at the Fort William green zone automated air monitoring station reached 343 in 2019 —categorised as ‘very poor’.In contrast, in May 2025, the PM10 level ranges be-tween 47 and 50 micrograms per cubic meter, and the AQI snds ata significantly improved 73.

- GNS News Agency, May 29

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on her X handle, congratulated the citizens and agencies of Kolkata for their collective efforts.“Kolkata again shows the way! Grateful to the people of Kolkata for their support. Let’s all — citizens and agencies alike — keep up the effort for a cleaner, greener city!” she wrote.Mayor Firhad Hakim echoed this sentiment while outlining the initiatives taken by the state government to address the poll