NMPA installs real-time air quality monitoring station

The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has commissioned a state-of-the-art Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) at Seamen’s Memorial Garden, located within the port’s wharf area near Mallya Gate. The facility, built at a cost of ₹2.76 crore, became operational on August 10, 2025, and will be maintained for five years, until July 2030.

The CAAQMS will monitor real-time concentrations of key pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), and ammonia (NH₃), along with other parameters mandated by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). It will also record weather indicators including wind speed, wind direction, humidity, temperature, pressure, and solar radiation. For public awareness, the readings are displayed at the port gate. Data from the station will be transmitted continuously to the KSPCB and the Central Pollution Control Board, supporting compliance with national air quality standards and enabling timely interventions when required.

Port officials said the initiative aligns with the national objective of strengthening India’s air quality monitoring network and reflects NMPA’s commitment to environmental management and public health. The authority has encouraged citizens to regularly track the displayed readings to stay informed about local air quality trends.