Rajpur Sonarpur Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Rajpur Sonarpur AQI Right Now

59

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 34.17 µg/m³

PM10: 57.75 µg/m³

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

Rajpur Sonarpur Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.534.17 µg/m³
PM1057.75 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)10.99 µg/m³
NO₂16.63 µg/m³
SO₂1.75 µg/m³
CO343.38 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Rajpur Sonarpur

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Rajpur Sonarpur

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.6 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.16 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Rajpur Sonarpur

  • 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 Rajpur Sonarpur Air Quality

Rajpur Sonarpur, Kolkata's sprawling southern residential extension in the South 24 Parganas district, exemplifies the unplanned suburban growth that characterises India's metropolitan fringes. As Kolkata's population pressure pushed southward, Rajpur Sonarpur absorbed massive residential spillover without corresponding infrastructure - narrow roads, limited drainage, and minimal green spaces define the landscape. The town shares Kolkata's pollution patterns completely, lying within the same flat Gangetic delta airshed.

The extreme population density with minimal urban planning creates persistent air quality challenges. Vehicle exhaust from two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws on congested narrow lanes, road dust from unpaved side streets, construction dust from continuous low-rise development, and open waste burning in the absence of adequate municipal services all contribute to elevated PM2.5 and PM10 levels. Small-scale industrial units - metalworking, plastics, and garment workshops - add localised emission sources throughout the residential fabric.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions over the flat delta terrain trap emissions from both local and regional sources, including Kolkata's industrial zones and port area to the north. Monsoon rainfall (June–September) provides the most effective cleansing, with heavy precipitation washing out suspended particulates. The Gangetic delta's moisture helps with year-round particle capture, but the sheer density of emission sources in this suburban corridor keeps air quality in the moderate-to-poor range for most of the non-monsoon period.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning
  • Small-scale industry emissions

Geography: Southern Kolkata suburb; dense residential spillover, part of Kolkata metropolitan airshed, flat Gangetic delta terrain

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Rajpur Sonarpur

Why does Rajpur Sonarpur have high air pollution?

Rajpur Sonarpur is a densely populated southern Kolkata suburb with unplanned growth, narrow roads, and limited waste management. It shares Kolkata's Gangetic delta airshed, meaning regional emissions from industrial zones and port traffic combine with local vehicle exhaust, road dust, construction activity, and waste burning to keep PM2.5 and PM10 elevated.

How does Rajpur Sonarpur's pollution compare to Kolkata?

Rajpur Sonarpur mirrors Kolkata's air quality patterns due to their shared airshed on the flat Gangetic delta. Winter inversions affect both areas equally. However, the suburb's narrower roads, higher localised congestion, and less regulated waste burning can create micro-level hotspots that may exceed Kolkata city centre readings.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities