Pune, 11th September 2026: Pune has secured the 12th position nationally in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, conducted under the Centre’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The city scored 183 out of 200 in the category for cities with populations of more than one million.
Among Maharashtra cities, Thane ranked seventh, Navi Mumbai ninth and Nagpur 10th, placing all three ahead of Pune. Mumbai was ranked 28th.
Pune’s ranking comes as the city continues to face several sources of air pollution. The growing number of vehicles, traffic congestion, road dust, construction activity and industrial emissions remain key concerns.
Officials said Pune’s performance in the survey was encouraging, but controlling pollution from road dust, construction sites and vehicles remains a major challenge.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan evaluates the steps taken by cities to improve air quality. The assessment includes:
Implementation of city-specific clean air action plans
Control of road and construction dust
Traffic and transport management
Management of waste
Control of industrial and vehicular emissions
Public awareness and participation
As part of its efforts to control construction-related pollution, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has increased its use of technology to monitor dust levels.
PMC, in collaboration with World Resources Institute (WRI) India, has introduced sensor-based air quality monitoring at construction sites with a built-up area of 5,000 square metres or more.
The monitoring system is aimed at identifying and controlling dust pollution from large construction projects and strengthening enforcement of air-quality measures.
While Pune’s 12th-place ranking reflects progress under the city’s clean-air initiatives, officials said sustained action will be needed to address the pollution generated by traffic, construction and road dust.