MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s proposal to appoint an independent agency at a cost of ₹ 11.28 crore over three years to audit sensor-based air quality monitors installed at construction sites across Mumbai was approved by the civic standing committee on Wednesday.
The audit will examine 9,000 monitors over three years, covering 3,000 installations annually, to verify their compliance with technical standards, calibration, data accuracy and real-time transmission of readings to the BMC’s central monitoring dashboard. The move follows a January 9, 2025, Bombay High Court order in a suo motu PIL on air pollution, directing the installation of sensor-based air quality monitors at all construction sites and their integration with a central monitoring system. The court had also indicated that construction sites violating the norms could be issued show-cause notices or face stoppage of work. The three-year contract, excluding the monsoon months, has been awarded to Mahabal Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd, which emerged as the lowest bidder after negotiations.
While the civic body has made progress in installing and integrating the monitors, an independent audit is required to verify their reliability, accuracy and data transmission capabilities, according to the BMC proposal.
