Corporation to monitor air quality in Chennai; installs sensors at 93 places

The boards are equipped to display real-time air quality and a decision on displaying the AQI will be taken shortly. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to start real time air quality monitoring at 75 locations, disseminating air quality data with the installation of on-site digital display boards.The digital display boards will show real time data in areas such as Thalankuppam, Ennore, Ernavoor, Andarkuppam, Chinnamathur, Manjambakkam, Puzhal, Kathirvedu, Puthagaram, Chinnakodungaiyur, R.K. Nagar, Royapuram, Ripon Buildings, Thousand Lights, Kolathur, Korattur Lake, Padi, Villivakkam, Rajamangalam, Kilpauk, Shenoy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Triplicane, Koyambedu, Maduravoyal, Valasaravakkam, Adambakkam, Nanganallur, Velachery, Taramani, Palavakkam, Uthandi, and Chemmanchery.Most of the digital display boards and air quality sensors have been installed on the premises of schools and hospitals of the GCC.GCC officials said that the air quality sensors and digital display boards were ready for display of real time data at 75 locations. A decision on display of real time air quality is expected to be taken shortly. The civic body has installed sensors at 93 places, but real time display is likely to be launched only in 75 locations.Planting of treesBased on analytics, the civic body will also start inspection of polluted locations and check construction sites, make decisions about planting of trees in areas with poor air quality, and launch initiatives to increase the usage of public transport on polluted roads.The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) is expected to play a central role in monitoring, analysing, coordinating, and managing air quality across the city.The key roles and responsibilities of ICCC include real-time air quality index (AQI) monitoring, monitoring AQI across different zones and locations, track major pollutantssuch as PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO, and O₃, and monitor live environmental sensor data through a centralised dashboard.ICCC will also start identifying areas experiencing poor, very poor, and severe AQI levels and compare pollution levels across zones and vulnerable areas. According to assessment of data by ICCC during Deepavali, the highest location averages of AQI was reported in Kallikuppam, Oragadam Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Triplicane, and Ernavoor. Published - November 11, 2026 05:00 am IST