GRAP-4 Imposed as Mumbai’s Air Quality Plunges; BMC Shuts Construction Sites, Congress Proposes ‘Clean Air Action Plan’

Mumbai: Mumbai’s air quality crisis deepened on Monday as several pockets of the city slipped into the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ AQI categories, prompting authorities to enforce GRAP-4 — the highest level of pollution emergency measures — across multiple high-risk zones.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has activated GRAP-4 (Pollution Emergency Protocol) in severely affected areas including Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Chakala–Andheri East, Navi Nagar, Powai and Mulund, where residents have been battling thick smog, reduced visibility, eye irritation, and breathing discomfort for several days.

Under the GRAP-4 restrictions, the BMC has issued work-shutdown notices to more than 50 construction and ready-mix concrete (RMC) sites, citing excessive dust emissions. Bakeries, marble-cutting units, and smaller local industries have also been directed to switch to cleaner and environmentally safer processes. Officials warn that non-compliance will invite strict penalties.

This marks the second phase of emergency response as complaints of respiratory distress and increased pollution-linked ailments surge across the financial capital.

Meanwhile, in a separate initiative, the Mumbai Congress has introduced its comprehensive ‘Mumbai Clean Air Action Plan’, labelling clean air as a basic citizen right. The proposal includes a range of measures such as:

Creating green corridors and designated “breathing zones” around infrastructure hotspots

24×7 real-time air quality monitoring

Planting 1 million trees under the Green Mumbai 2030 project

Automatic activation of strict curbs when AQI crosses danger limits

Night-time activity restrictions and halting of non-essential construction

Mandatory air purifiers in polluted school zones

Distribution of N95 masks to outdoor workers