Visakhapatnam Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Andhra Pradesh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Visakhapatnam AQI Right Now

74

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 25.6 µg/m³

PM10: 73.5 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Visakhapatnam Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.525.6 µg/m³
PM1073.5 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)11.98 µg/m³
NO₂19.72 µg/m³
SO₂2.79 µg/m³
CO744.45 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Visakhapatnam

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Visakhapatnam

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.2 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.1 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Visakhapatnam

  • General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
  • Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Visakhapatnam Air Quality

Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh's largest city and a major port, sits in a natural harbour on the Bay of Bengal flanked by the Eastern Ghats. The city hosts some of India's heaviest industrial installations - Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) steel plant, HPCL refinery, naval shipyard, and one of India's busiest ports - creating a unique industrial pollution profile for a coastal city.

December through March sees the worst air quality as the northeast monsoon's dry phase reduces atmospheric cleansing. PM2.5 concentrations during this period typically range from 50–90 µg/m³, with the northern industrial belt (Steel Plant Township, Gajuwaka) recording significantly higher readings due to proximity to RINL's blast furnaces and the thermal power station. SOx emissions from the refinery and port vessel emissions add to the industrial signature.

The city's coastal position provides strong sea breezes that generally disperse pollutants more effectively than inland locations, giving Vizag better overall air quality than its industrial intensity would suggest. The Eastern Ghats backing the city to the north and west create orographic effects that sometimes funnel industrial emissions through the city's central valley. The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings excellent air quality with 1,000+ mm of rainfall. APPCB monitors key industrial emission sources, and RINL has invested in dust suppression and emission control upgrades.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Industrial emissions (steel plant, refinery, port)
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Port and shipping emissions
  • Construction dust
  • Thermal power plant emissions

Geography: Coastal city on the Bay of Bengal flanked by the Eastern Ghats; sea breeze provides good ventilation but heavy industry on the north creates localised hotspots

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Visakhapatnam

How does the steel plant affect Visakhapatnam air quality?

The RINL (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited) steel plant in northern Vizag operates blast furnaces, coke ovens, and sinter plants that emit particulate matter, SO2, and CO. Surrounding areas like Steel Plant Township and Gajuwaka record PM10 levels 30–50% higher than the city average. RINL has invested in pollution control, but the sheer scale of operations (7.3 MTPA capacity) creates a significant emission footprint.

Is Vizag air quality better than other Indian cities?

Yes, Vizag's annual average AQI is significantly better than north Indian cities due to its coastal sea breeze ventilation. Its PM2.5 levels are typically 50–70% lower than Delhi or Kanpur. However, the industrial north zone (near the steel plant and refinery) can record readings comparable to mid-tier industrial cities.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities