Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Aurangabad AQI Right Now

121

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 63.59 µg/m³

PM10: 130.85 µg/m³

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

Aurangabad Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.563.59 µg/m³
PM10130.85 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)36.46 µg/m³
NO₂17.69 µg/m³
SO₂6.7 µg/m³
CO436.37 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Aurangabad

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Aurangabad

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.9 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.35 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Aurangabad

  • General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
  • Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Aurangabad Air Quality

Aurangabad (officially Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), the tourism gateway to Ajanta and Ellora caves, sits on the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra's Marathwada region. The city's air quality is shaped by its semi-arid climate, a growing industrial base, and its position as a major auto manufacturing hub - Bajaj Auto's primary facility and numerous auto ancillary units operate in the Waluj and Chikalthana MIDC areas.

Winter months (November–February) see the worst air quality, with PM2.5 concentrations typically reaching 60–110 µg/m³ during December and January. The dry Marathwada climate means minimal rainfall from October through May, allowing dust and particulates to accumulate for extended periods. Stone quarrying operations in surrounding areas contribute significant PM10, while industrial emissions from the auto and pharma manufacturing sectors add to baseline pollution.

The city's rapid growth - driven by IT corridor development along the Jalna Road and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) node designation - has brought increased construction and vehicular activity. Despite these challenges, Aurangabad benefits from its plateau elevation (570 m) which provides better atmospheric mixing than plains cities. The monsoon (June–September) brings effective cleansing, though Marathwada's rainfall is lower and more erratic than western Maharashtra.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Industrial emissions (Waluj, Chikalthana MIDC)
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Stone quarrying

Geography: Deccan Plateau in the Marathwada region at ~570 m elevation; semi-arid climate with limited rainfall outside monsoon

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Aurangabad

What causes air pollution in Aurangabad?

Aurangabad's pollution stems from industrial emissions (Bajaj Auto and auto ancillary plants at Waluj MIDC, pharma units at Chikalthana), vehicular exhaust, construction dust, road dust in the semi-arid environment, and stone quarrying in surrounding areas. Winter temperature inversions exacerbate accumulation.

When is the best air quality in Aurangabad?

July through September during the monsoon offers the cleanest air, with AQI typically in the Good range. Aurangabad's semi-arid climate means the monsoon relief, while significant, is shorter than in coastal Maharashtra cities.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities