Noida Battles Unique Pollution Patterns Amid Delhi Woes

As of 2025-10-17T06:26:32+00:00, Noida has been grappling with a unique air pollution crisis, with PM2.5 levels spiking sharply in the late evenings, a pattern distinct from the trends observed in Delhi.

While Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'poor' category on 2025-10-16, Noida has been recording even higher pollution levels, reaching the 'very poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 288. Analysts attribute this to a rise in local emissions, particularly from traffic congestion and the early use of firecrackers, rather than stubble burning.

The pollution build-up in Noida has been peaking between 7 pm and midnight, in contrast to Delhi where spikes tend to occur later at night. Calm winds and rising humidity have further exacerbated the issue by trapping pollutants near the surface. Within Noida, the highest spikes have been observed in Sector 125 and Sector 116.

The intensity and timing of these pollution peaks suggest a combination of vehicular emissions and local celebratory activities, with morning spikes between 7 and 9 am likely linked to commuter traffic. While stubble burning has also begun to rise across neighboring states, it is not the primary driver of Noida's unique pollution patterns.