Hyderabad: Telangana’s capital, Hyderabad, has the highest levels of vehicular pollution compared to other major Indian cities. Although there are fewer vehicles on Hyderabad roads than in Delhi, Bengaluru, or Pune. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), pollution levels have gone up at a rapid speed between 2022 and 2024. The emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide have increased five to eight times in recent times.
Recent data makes it clear that nitrogen oxide concentrations in Hyderabad have reached 48 µg/m³ on average—four times higher than the WHO’s safe limit of 10 µg/m³. Every day, vehicles in Hyderabad emit 1,500 tonnes of pollutants, responsible for increasing one-third of the city’s total air pollution. Two-wheelers contribute a maximum of 56% of vehicular emissions.
Experts believe that there are several reasons behind the deteriorating pollution levels in Hyderabad, such as: Use of old vehicles, Lack of a public transport system forces city residents to depend on their own or private vehicles. Excessive fuel burning takes place due to the dilapidated condition of roads. Rampant use of impure fuel leads to more emissions.
Experts think that Telangana needs improve metro connectivity, and expand traffic management to keep the emissions under control. The government has to take some urgent steps, like bringing improvement in public transport, curbing the plight of old vehicles on roads, banning adulterated fuel, and making the traffic regulations smooth to make the city’s air quality better.
