Driving Indore Toward Cleaner Air

Why should Indore residents be concerned about air pollution?

Air pollution is an increasingly urgent issue in Indore that directly threatens the health of residents. Satellite data indicate that air pollution in the city has been rising rapidly over the last 10 years.

According to a recent Clean Air Catalyst analysis, average monthly levels of fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, surpassed India’s national daily standard (60 micrograms/m3) for more than a third of 2023 and the World Health Organization’s 24-hour standard (15 micrograms/m3) for nearly all of 2023. In 2019 alone, 2,400 premature deaths and 620 new cases of childhood asthma in Indore were due to air pollution. Read more about the health impacts of air pollution in Indore in our health fact sheet, available at globalcleanair.org.

Transportation is a priority sector for clean air and climate action

The Catalyst’s 2024 Emissions Inventory estimates the transportation sector contributes more than any other to the PM2.5 breathed by residents every day, accounting for 70% of the total.

A 2013 study showed that vehicular congestion in just seven key intersections accounted for more than 2 million kg of CO2 annually. Beyond PM2.5, the transportation sector contributes significantly to other health-harming pollutants in Indore, including 86% of nitrogen oxide (NOx), nearly half of carbon monoxide (CO), and 76% of black carbon emissions. The sector is also the main contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Indore. A consultation with Indore residents organized by the Catalyst in 2022 also revealed the transport sector was an area of concern for scientists, key stakeholders, and the public.

Six evidence-based transportation solutions

Based on a thorough analysis, the Catalyst selected the following six transportation policy solutions to deliver significant air pollution reductions per unit of cost (See Graphic 2) within a relatively brief time horizon. Once implemented, these solutions can help build momentum for additional actions that can drive down pollution even further. The twin aims of these six solutions are 1) to facilitate a mode shift from private to public transport and 2) to facilitate a transition to cleaner, more efficient modes of transport of all kinds. This document explores each solution in detail.