Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses are being equipped with air filters to improve air quality. The first filter was installed on the bus route 60, which operates between Kurla and Mazgaon.
Following the initial implementation, seven more filters were installed on Monday. The plan is to equip a total of 200 buses with these filters. This will turn them into a moving air purifier.
The move comes as a response to the post-monsoon rise in air pollution. The recent rains contributed to the cleaning of the air. But the state administration is seeking a long-term solution to the issue.
The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are capable of collecting 12 to 15 grammes of suspended particulate matter per hour. They can clear about 15,000 cubic metres of air per hour. Moreover, they operate efficiently without requiring additional power.
Despite each filter costing approximately INR 50,000, they are being purchased through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
The future plan includes 150 vehicle-mounted air filters and 200 buses with removable rooftop air filters. This initiative is a collaboration between the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and BEST.
A technical committee meeting also discussed other potential solutions. This includes vehicle-mounted air purifiers and virtual chimneys in congested areas. The meeting was chaired by the senior secretary of the Maharashtra government's Department of Environment and Climate Change.
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