Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 104 on Sunday, placing it in the 'moderate' pollution category. However, areas like the Bandra Kurla Complex saw AQI in the 'severe' range. Experts link the spike mainly to increased construction and vehicle emissions. Mumbai is undergoing major infrastructure changes, including metro lines, bridges, and new buildings replacing old mills and slums. Angshuman Modak, IIT Bombay climate scientist, highlighted construction and vehicles as main pollution sources. Sushma Nair from the India Meteorological Department explained that seasonal temperature inversion traps pollutants close to ground. High buildings also block airflow that might help clear pollution. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray blamed the state government for poor planning and called pollution a result of 'explosion of corruption.' The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking steps to fight pollution. These include pushing bakeries and crematoriums to use cleaner fuels, introducing electric buses, managing construction dust, and sprinkling water on roads. The BMC stopped work at 53 construction sites causing pollution and monitors air quality with 662 sensor systems, though 117 are inactive. Strict action will follow if sensors fail. Out of 593 bakeries, 209 run on clean fuel. BMC efforts helped 57 bakeries switch recently, and many more are transitioning. WHO warns air pollution causes serious health risks, including heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and more. Mumbai's residents feel the heavy cost of rising pollution. Published - November 30, 2025 05:07 pm IST