Bengaluru has a bigger problem than traffic; Did you know that it is now one of India’s worst carbon polluters? , india news

Bengaluru’s traffic congestion is no longer just an everyday inconvenience. The city is now one of India’s leading contributors to carbon emissions from road transport, placing it at the center of growing public health and climate concerns, a new scientific study has found. The findings highlight rising levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, driven primarily by increased vehicle density and chronic congestion on city roads.

What was once dismissed as seasonal dust or temporary congestion has now emerged as a serious public health and governance challenge, driven primarily by traffic congestion, increasing vehicle numbers and uncontrolled urban growth.

Why is pollution level increasing in Bengaluru?

Recently an independent analysis led by content creator Unboxing Bengaluru has helped bring the issue into greater focus. After monitoring the city’s air quality for over a month, the analysis revealed that Bengaluru’s average PM2.5 level is around 40. While it is officially classified as “moderate”, experts say it is not safe for long-term exposure.

More worrying is the long-term trend. There is more than 35 years of PM2.5 data in Bengaluru, and the pattern is clear: pollution levels have gotten steadily worse year after year. Although the city is still cleaner than Delhi, researchers warn it is now approaching the pollution levels seen in Beijing before China’s aggressive clean air interventions began.

The Beijing experience offers a cautionary lesson. After the city’s infamous “airpocalypse” in 2013, when AQI levels often reached 500, China imposed strict measures, including closing coal plants and banning polluting vehicles. In a decade, pollution levels fell by about 60%. Experts say Bengaluru still has time to act before it reaches the same breaking point.

The problem extends beyond just air quality. Bengaluru is now one of India’s fastest growing urban centers in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. A recent study published in Scientific Data found that while Mumbai recorded the highest road traffic emissions per kilometre, Bengaluru was one of the top cities in total carbon emissions from road transport.

Despite international climate agreements, carbon emissions continue to increase globally. Since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, global CO2 emissions have increased at an average annual rate of 1.7%, compared to 0.9% in previous years. Even after a temporary decline during the pandemic, emissions increased again between 2019 and 2023. The IPCC has warned that if current trends continue, the global carbon budget needed to keep temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius could be exhausted by 2040.

Is traffic the biggest culprit for Bengaluru pollution?

Several studies now point to road transport as the major source of Bengaluru’s air pollution. An estimated 64% of the city’s PM2.5 pollution comes from vehicles, the highest share among major Indian cities.

Bengaluru currently has around 1.23 crore registered vehicles, including around 84 lakh two-wheelers. Every day, 2,563 additional vehicles are added to the city’s roads. With broken roads, narrow lanes, endless idling at traffic signals and slow-moving crowds, emissions and road dust continue to increase.

As urban planners have noted, cities built around private cars emit persistent pollution, while cities designed for walking, cycling and efficient public transportation leave much smaller carbon footprints.

What does Bengaluru’s own data show?

Closer to home, research on greenhouse gas emissions in Greater Bengaluru highlights the role of both transportation and household energy use. The ward-level study of nearly 2,000 households found significant variations in electricity consumption across the city, suggesting that targeted energy efficiency measures can make a meaningful difference.

Bengaluru’s Central Business District faces additional challenges due to dense traffic, energy-intensive buildings, limited public transport options and the urban heat island effect. These factors together increase emissions and energy demand, especially for cooling.

What action should the state government take?

Amid growing concern, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has directed the Chief Secretary to form an expert committee to recommend immediate intervention. The move came after MLC Dinesh Gooleegowda warned that without decisive action, Bengaluru may soon face a Delhi-like situation.

However, there are examples within the city that show what is possible. Kempegowda International Airport has achieved net zero greenhouse gas emissions through adoption of solar energy, electric ground vehicles, efficient waste management and sustainable design. Experts say the same principles can be applied citywide, from transportation planning to building standards.

Bengaluru still has a chance to avoid the worst outcomes, but the window is shrinking. Without rapid improvements in public transport, strict emissions controls, better road infrastructure and a move away from car-centric planning, the city’s once livable climate is at risk of succumbing to chronic pollution.