Ghaziabad, Noida among four most polluted cities in India

Ghaziabad and Noida recorded ‘poor’ air quality on Saturday (3 October 2026), with Ghaziabad at an AQI of 222, the second highest among 252 cities nationwide after Yamuna Nagar’s 228. Noida’s AQI was 204. The two NCR cities were among only four Indian cities with readings above 200, Manndideep in Madhya Pradesh was the other at 212.

Four of Ghaziabad’s six monitoring stations exceeded 200, with Wave City on NH-9 touching 294, nearing the ‘very poor’ category. In Noida, three of four stations crossed 200, led by Sector 116 at 220. Greater Noida stayed ‘moderate’ at 107, Delhi at 171 and Gurgaon at 194. The Central Pollution Control Board forecast no improvement on Sunday (4 October) or Monday (5 October).

The early slide into ‘poor’ comes as enforcement agencies step up checks on industrial units and vehicles. A CAQM inspection of 21 units in Loni found all non-compliant, with violations including furnaces lacking chimneys and unapproved fuel use. Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation said it has deployed 18 mechanical sweepers, 42 water sprinklers and 21 anti-smog guns.