**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 437, answered on February 2, 2026, concerning the performance of smog towers in Delhi and the potential installation in Meerut. It details the installation, costs, and performance evaluations of smog towers in Delhi and addresses air quality improvement measures in Meerut. No immediate action items or deadlines are provided other than the date of response.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Smog Towers in Delhi:**
* Smog towers were installed in Anand Vihar and Connaught Place by the Central Government and the Government of NCT of Delhi, respectively.
* The Anand Vihar tower cost Rs. 13.59 crore to construct with monthly operational costs of Rs. 10.27 lakh.
* The Connaught Place tower cost Rs. 22 crore to construct with annual operational costs of Rs. 2 crore.
* **Performance Evaluation:**
* IIT Bombay, in association with IIT Delhi, conducted performance evaluations of the smog towers.
* The towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place showed a reduction of 20% and 13%, respectively, in PM2.5 and PM10 levels within a 400-meter radius.
* **Air Quality in Meerut:**
* Meerut is covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and funded via the XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus City Challenge Fund.
* Rs. 187.99 crore has been released to Meerut for air quality improvement measures.
* Meerut recorded 277 good air quality days in 2025, compared to 203 in 2022.
* Meerut has shown a 16.4% reduction in annual average PM10 concentrations from FY 2017-18 to FY 2024-25.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Residents of Delhi (Specifically Anand Vihar and Connaught Place)**
* **Impact:** Residents benefit from potentially improved air quality due to the smog towers' reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 levels within a 400-meter radius.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required. Residents may want to monitor local air quality data to observe the effectiveness of the towers.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Meerut**
* **Impact:** Residents benefit from air quality improvement measures funded by NCAP and other sources, resulting in increased "good air quality days" and reduced PM10 concentrations.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required. Residents may want to monitor local air quality data to track the progress of air quality improvement efforts.
**Stakeholder: Government (Central Government, GNCTD, Urban Local Body, and developmental authorities of Meerut)**
* **Impact:** The government is responsible for funding, installing, and maintaining smog towers and air quality improvement programs, and for monitoring their effectiveness.
* **Action Required:** Continue funding and implementing air quality improvement measures, monitoring smog tower performance, and reporting on progress.
Key Entities Referenced
Smog Tower: Air purification infrastructure installed in Delhi to combat pollution, subject of the parliamentary question.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A national program to improve air quality, covering Meerut city.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for answering questions regarding smog towers and air quality.
Delhi: Location of installed smog towers, specifically Anand Vihar and Connaught Place.
IIT Bombay/IIT Delhi: Academic institutions that conducted performance evaluation studies on the functioning of the smog towers.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 437
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Performance of Smog Tower
437. SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI:
SHRI ARUN GOVIL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether air purifier, smog tower were installed in Delhi recently to reduce air pollution and it
is reported that one smog tower is capable of purifying six lakh cubic meters of air and reduces
pollution in the area by up to 75%;
(b) the total cost of building and operating the smog tower and whether any study has been
conducted on the functioning of the said towers;
(c) if so, the details and the outcomes thereof; and
(d) whether the outcomes are favourable, if so, the timeline for installation of smog tower in
Meerut-Hapur Lok Sabha Constituency keeping in view that Meerut ranks among the most
polluted cities in the country in terms of environment and pollution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): A smog tower was installed at Anand Vihar, Delhi by the Central Government. The
Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) has informed that another smog tower has been installed
at Connaught Place.
The smog tower installed at Anand Vihar was constructed at a capital cost of Rs. 13.59 crore, and
an expenditure of Rs. 10.27 lakh per month is required for its operation. Further, the smog tower
installed at Connaught Place has a capital cost of Rs. 22 crore, with an operational cost of Rs. 2
crore per annum.
Performance evaluation studies on the functioning of the smog towers installed at Anand Vihar
and Connaught Place were conducted by IIT Bombay in association with IIT Delhi. It has been
reported that the smog towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place have shown a reduction of
20% and 13%, respectively, in PM2.5 and PM10 levels within a radius of 400 metres of the smog
towers.Meerut city is covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and is funded under the
XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus City Challenge Fund as an air quality performance-linked
grant. An amount of Rs. 187.99 crore has been released to Meerut city as critical gap funding for
implementation of air quality improvement measures by the Urban Local Body and developmental
authorities.
As a result of the interventions undertaken under NCAP, Meerut city recorded 277 Good Days
(AQI <200) in 2025 as compared to 203 Good Days in 2022. Further, Meerut city has shown a
reduction of 16.4% in annual average PM10 concentrations in FY 2024-25 (133 µg/m³) as
compared to FY 2017-18 (159 µg/m³).
***