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Varanasi's Air Quality Plummets: Falls to 34th Place
10 Sep
Summary
- Varanasi ranked 34th in Swachh Vayu Survekshan for cities over 10 lakh population.
- The city's score dropped to 150 marks, a significant decline from its third-place finish.
- Ongoing construction, dust, and traffic are cited as primary challenges to air quality.
Varanasi's air quality has significantly deteriorated, leading to a ranking of 34th in the latest Swachh Vayu Survekshan for cities exceeding 10 lakh population. This marks a substantial drop from its third-place national standing three years prior. The city scored 150 marks in the recent assessment, a notable decrease from its earlier performance, raising concerns about pollution control effectiveness.
Despite significant budgetary allocations and the installation of approximately 50 ambient air monitoring devices under the Smart City project, Varanasi faces persistent challenges. Municipal officials have identified ongoing construction, road dust, and rising traffic as key contributors to the poor air quality. Measures such as road sprinkling, anti-smog guns, and paving efforts are being implemented to mitigate dust pollution.
Varanasi's performance has worsened over the past three years. It secured third place nationally in 2023 with 191 marks, then slipped to ninth in 2024 and 11th in 2025. The current 34th position with 150 marks is its lowest. Meanwhile, other Uttar Pradesh cities like Lucknow, Agra, and Ghaziabad have achieved significantly better rankings.
