BMC replaces road-cleaning machines amid growing dust pollution concerns

A hazy afternoon at Nariman Point. Pic/Ashish Raje

The BMC has replaced conventional road-cleaning machines with 29 dust suction machines after concerns that the earlier equipment was spreading dust during cleaning. Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakne, said on Thursday, 26 machines were operational, while the remaining three would be functional by next week. He urged citizens to avoid unnecessary use of private vehicles and bursting firecrackers, stressing that tackling air pollution required collective responsibility.

Of Mumbai's 593 bakeries, 209 were already using cleaner fuels, and 175 had converted to them, while 69 were in the process of switching. Another 87 remained non-compliant, and eight had shut down. Dhakne said 87 per cent of bakeries had switched to electricity or compressed natural gas. He warned that non-compliant units would have to shut down or relocate outside the city.

More days of improved air quality

Mumbai recorded 231 days of ‘Good' and ‘Satisfactory' air quality till October 22 this year, compared with 218 days in 2025, 216 in 2024, and 185 in 2023, according to figures shared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.