Bengaluru: Now Among India's Worst Carbon Polluters

• A new study ranks Bengaluru among India's worst carbon polluters from road transport, with rising CO2, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide levels.
• The city's PM2.5 levels average around 40, considered unsafe for long-term exposure, and pollution has steadily worsened over 35 years.
• Road transport is the dominant source of Bengaluru's air pollution, contributing an estimated 64% of the city's PM2.5 due to 1.23 crore registered vehicles and chronic congestion.
• Bengaluru is approaching pollution levels seen in Beijing before its aggressive clean-air interventions, but still has time to act.
• Deputy CM D K Shivakumar has directed the formation of an expert committee to recommend immediate interventions to address the crisis.

Why It Matters: Bengaluru's pollution crisis threatens resident health and global climate goals.