Real Estate The Scapegoat of Mumbai’s Breathless Struggle

Real Estate The Scapegoat of Mumbai’s Breathless Struggle By Ronita Dsouza

Deonar landfill alone emits 9.8 tonne of methane per hour, contributing significantly to Mumbai’s climate crisis. Methane leaks create ground-level ozone, intensifying heat and threatening both human and environmental health.

This commentary aims to dissect contributors to Mumbai’s air pollution and climate crisis
and challenge the simplistic narrative that blames the real estate sector alone. By exploring a broader spectrum of sources— transport, industry, and domestic emissions— it advocates for a balanced, science-driven response. As Mumbai’s AQI worsens each year, the call for decisive, multi-sectoral action is no longer a choice but a necessity.

 Slow Death in Air

Mumbai, once lauded for its invigorating sea breezes and relatively clean air, now grapples with a suffocating reality. The city’s famed coastal charm has been overshadowed by a dark cloud of pollution that hangs heavy, threatening the health of 20 million residents. Once considered a respite from the more polluted interiors of India, Mumbai’s air quality has plummeted alarmingly, with dire consequences for its people and economy. The transformation from a city of clear skies to one of hazardous air is a cautionary tale of unchecked urbanisation and industrial expansion.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has emerged as a grim indicator of this deterioration. AQI, which measures pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ground-level ozone, reveals a city teetering on the edge of a public health crisis. In the winter months of 2024, Mumbai’s AQI averaged between 200 and 300, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. On certain days, particularly in industrial zones like Trombay and Chembur, AQI readings breached 400, signaling ‘severe’ air quality levels that pose risks even to healthy individuals.

To look at the severity in context, the World Health Organization (WHO) deems an AQI of 0-50 as safe. Mumbai’s recent average of 250 is five times this threshold, and the concentration of PM2.5 particles, a leading cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, is equally alarming. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the city’s annual PM2.5 average has surged to 58 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the WHO’s safe limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter by nearly six times.

The impacts of this crisis are stark. In 2023 alone, air pollution was linked to over 14,000 premature deaths in Mumbai, according to a report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Moreover, hospital admissions for respiratory ailments have spiked by 20 percent over the last three years, with paediatric asthma cases showing a particularly worrisome rise. Schools in polluted zones report absenteeism due to respiratory infections, while elderly citizens in hotspots like Mahul and Trombay increasingly rely on medical oxygen support.

Mumbai’s pollution sources are varied and interconnected. A study by SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) attributes 30 percent of the city’s pollution to the transport sector, driven by 3.8 million vehicles on the road, many of which are older than 15 years and classified as “super emitters.” Industries, including power plants and refineries in the Trombay region, contribute 18 percent of the pollution load. The construction sector adds another 10-15 percent, with unregulated activities exacerbating particulate matter emissions.

Perhaps the most alarming is the cumulative effect of these pollutants on Mumbai’s most vulnerable populations. The Global Burden of Disease Study estimates that life expectancy in Mumbai is reduced by 3.2 years due to chronic exposure to air pollution. The psychological toll is equally profound, with residents in hotspots constantly fearing health crises.

Battle for Every Breath

In the sprawling chaos of Mumbai, where life moves as fast as the trains that define the city’s heartbeat, a silent crisis unfolds with every breath. The air that carries hopes and dreams of millions is laced with invisible toxins. For decades, the pollution seemed like a distant shadow, obscured by the glitter of skyscrapers and the hum of progress. But today, it hangs heavy, choking the city’s spirit.

Mumbai’s air quality crisis is not born of a single villain but the result of a tangled web of contributors—each playing a role in a story of negligence, mismanagement, and survival. It is a crisis where actions of many intersect, compounding the damage and creating a systemic problem that no single solution can untangle.

Roads that Choke: Transport at 30 pc

Every morning, the city awakens to the roar of 3.8 million vehicles—a lifeline for the world’s most densely populated metropolis. But beneath the hum of engines lies a darker truth. Nearly 35 percent of these vehicles are older than 15 years, spewing pollutants like PM10 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) far beyond acceptable limits. Dubbed ‘super emitters’, these aging machines are responsible for 49 percent of PM10 emissions from the transport sector.

For Suresh, a taxi driver in Andheri, his car is more than a vehicle—it is survival. “I know it pollutes,” he admits, “but what choice do I have? A new car costs more than I can afford in a lifetime.” His story is echoed by thousands who rely on these ageing vehicles to make a living, even as they add to the city’s pollution burden.

Mumbai’s roads are not just clogged with cars, they are lined with frustration. Congestion in areas like Sion, BKC, Dadar, and Bandra amplifies emissions. Vehicles idle for hours turn these neighbourhoods into pollution hotspots. Despite efforts like Metro, the city’s infrastructure struggles to keep pace with its population, leaving Mumbai reliant on its motorised veins.

Factories and Fumes: Industry at 18 pc

If transport is the visible face of Mumbai’s pollution, industry operates in the shadows. Zones like Trombay and Chembur hum with activity, home to refineries, power plants, and
chemical factories that fuel the city’s economy but poison its air.

Take the Tata Power Trombay Thermal Plant, which burns 2.4 million tonne of coal annually, releasing sulphur dioxide (SO2) and fine particulates into the atmosphere. Or BPCL and HPCL refineries, whose operations emit significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and PM10. These emissions are a death sentence for the residents of
Mahul, a nearby settlement.

Sunita Yadav, a Mahul resident, describes the air as “acidic.” “We cough until our throats burn. The smell never leaves— it follows you into your home, your dreams.” Doctors in
the area report a rise in chronic respiratory illnesses, with children and the elderly the worst affected.

Despite these grim realities, industries operate with minimal oversight. The Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) remain absent in many facilities, allowing pollutants
to flow unchecked. The factories may keep Mumbai running, but they also keep the skies grey

Dust of Progress: Construction at 10 pc-15 pc

Across Mumbai, cranes stretch towards the sky, excavators tear into the earth, and the city grows taller and denser. The dust rising from these sites is the most visible face of pollution, making construction an easy target for blame. But is it truly the villain it’s made out to be?

Construction dust contributes 10 percent to 15 percent of PM10 emissions, with hotspots like Byculla and Navi Mumbai recording AQI levels exceeding 200 during peak activity. Regulations mandate dust suppression measures, but enforcement is inconsistent. Many smaller projects skirt the rules, adding to the city’s particulate burden.

Yet halting construction comes at a cost. Each delayed project means more families waiting for homes, more hospitals postponed, and more incomplete infrastructure. For every crane that stands still, livelihoods are disrupted, and dreams are deferred.

Crisis of Interactions

Mumbai’s air pollution is not just a sum of its parts—it is a crisis born of interactions.

• Emissions from transport mix with industrial NOx to form ground-level ozone, creating invisible toxins that aggravate respiratory conditions.

• l Dust from construction amplifies windblown particulates, creating localised hotspots where AQI spikes to hazardous levels.

• Domestic emissions and waste burning combine to form toxic plumes, affecting neighbourhoods far beyond their origin.

This interconnectedness ensures that no single solution will suffice. Addressing one sector in isolation is like patching a leak in a sinking ship—it may slow the flood, but it will not stop it.

Trombay : Epicentre of Pollution

Trombay, an industrial powerhouse on Mumbai’s eastern periphery, is emblematic of the city’s dual identity: a hub of economic activity and a significant contributor to its environmental crisis. Hosting some of India’s largest industrial establishments, including Tata Power, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC), Trombay drives Mumbai’s economy while simultaneously degrading its air quality. Coupled with logistics hubs and high-traffic corridors, Trombay has become a major hotspot for pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SO2, and VOCs, affecting both the environment and public health. This section explores Trombay’s key industrial contributors, their operational dynamics, and environmental impact they impose on Mumbai.

CASE STUDY 1

Mumbai’s Live Volcano – A Crisis of Neglect and Survival

Mumbai, the Maximum City, thrives on its unyielding pace and dreams. Yet beneath the shimmering skyline and the promises of progress lie a silent, growing crisis—its mountains of waste. Mumbai generates nearly 9,000- 11,000 metric tonne of garbage daily, a staggering one-third of Maharashtra’s total waste. This refuse, composed of organic, plastic, metal, biomedical, and electronic materials, is shipped to the city’s overburdened landfills, turning them into ticking environmental and humanitarian time bombs. Every breath is a battle for those living in the shadow of these trash mountains.

Mountains of Misery: Deonar and Beyond

The Deonar dumping ground, established in 1927, sprawls over 134 hectares and receives 6,000-9,000 metric tonne of waste daily, despite exceeding capacity in 2002. Fires erupt periodically, sending toxic smoke plumes into the surrounding areas. The acrid smell of burning plastic and methane hangs heavy in the air, an ever-present reminder of civic neglect.

For residents of Shivaji Nagar, a slum bordering Deonar, life revolves around this trash mountain. “We cough until it feels like our lungs will collapse,” says Noor Fatima, a mother of three. Her children, like many others, suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses. According to a study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), the average life expectancy in this area is a shocking 39 years, compared to 73.5 years in the rest of Maharashtra. This stark disparity is not just a health crisis but a reflection of systemic inequality.

Human Cost of Landfills

Deonar, once considered on the outskirts of Mumbai, is now enveloped by dense urbanisation. Educational institutions like the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and NGOs like Apnalaya have repeatedly highlighted the plight of the M-East ward, where the landfill sits. Their studies reveal a grim reality:

• Respiratory Illnesses: Malnutrition, tuberculosis, and asthma are rampant among residents.

• Toxic Air: Methane and toxic gases from the landfill, exacerbated by medical-waste incinerators, poison the atmosphere.

• Health Hazards: Fires at the landfill release carcinogens, further worsening air quality.

“The medical waste incinerator is the biggest culprit,” says Purva Dewoolkar, a TISS researcher. Located just outside the Deonar landfill, this private facility, run by SMS Envoclean, churns out hazardous fumes day and night. Residents, however, have little recourse. Many do not exist on electoral rolls, leaving them voiceless in a system that prioritises urban progress over human lives.

Methane: A Climate and Human Catastrophe

Deonar and Kanjurmarg are not just Mumbai’s largest dumping grounds; they are also among its biggest emitters of methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than
carbon dioxide. A study found that one landfill alone emits 9.8 tonne of methane per hour, contributing significantly to India’s climate crisis. Methane leaks create ground-level ozone, intensifying heat and threatening both human and environmental health.

“Organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills, generating methane,” explains a waste management consultant. “These emissions are not just an environmental hazard—they are a direct threat to human life.” The fires that periodically erupt in the landfills release toxic fumes, further compounding the crisis. For those living nearby, these fires are not news—they are a part of life. “The sky turns black, and the smell makes us gag. But where can we go?” asks Abdul Rehman, a Deonar resident.

Broken System: Mismanagement and Neglect

Mumbai’s waste management system, though massive, is deeply flawed. With Gorai and Mulund landfills closed, the burden falls squarely on Deonar and Kanjurmarg, both of which are nearing capacity. The lack of proper segregation facilities exacerbates the problem. Instead of separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, the city’s garbage is dumped en masse, creating mountains of mixed refuse that are nearly impossible to process. “The rules state that landfills should be kilometres away from human habitation,” says Stalin D, an environmental activist. “But in Mumbai, they sit next to housing colonies, schools, and hospitals. It’s as though these people are invisible.”

Mumbai’s waste crisis is more than a logistical problem—it reflects how the city values its people, particularly its most vulnerable. In slums like Dharavi, home to over a million people, open burning is not just common—it’s a survival tactic. Without access to proper disposal systems, residents burn garbage to manage their waste, inadvertently releasing a cocktail of pollutants into the air. These fires emit PM2.5 particles, carcinogens, and toxic gases like dioxins and furans, which pose severe health risks.

Burning Reality: Garbage Fires and Toxic Air

Despite the NGT’s 2016 ban on open garbage burning, Mumbai has not fined a single violator in over 17 years. The city’s clean-up marshals, once tasked with monitoring and penalising illegal dumping and burning, were disbanded in 2022 when their contracts expired. The absence of enforcement mechanisms has allowed these harmful practices to persist unchecked.

According to Dr. Jalil Parkar, pulmonologist at Lilavati Hospital, “Burning plastic, rubber, and other synthetic materials releases fine particles that mix with the air, turning it toxic. These fumes contain carcinogens that increase the risk of cancer and respiratory illnesses, particularly among vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.”

The BMC’s waste management strategy, outlined in its Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP), identifies garbage burning as one of the top five contributors to the city’s deteriorating air quality. However, gaps in implementation have rendered this plan largely ineffective.

While BMC mandates waste segregation in gated communities, it has failed to extend these practices to slum clusters, where much of the waste is generated. An official admitted, “In slum clusters, segregation of waste is not carried out due to lack of awareness. As a result, most people burn the waste.”

Human Cost: Health and Inequality

For Mumbai’s poorest residents, the waste crisis is not just an environmental issue—it’s a matter of survival. In Dharavi and other slum clusters, the lack of proper waste management infrastructure forces residents to live amid garbage. The health impacts are devastating:

• Respiratory Illnesses: Children and the elderly are disproportionately affected by asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions caused by prolonged exposure to toxic air.

• Chronic Diseases: Carcinogens released from burning plastics increase the risk of long-term illnesses like cancer.

• Social Injustice: Without access to clean air and proper waste disposal, slum dwellers bear the brunt of the city’s negligence, while wealthier neighbourhoods enjoy comparatively cleaner environments.

As Mumbai dreams of becoming a global city, it must reckon with the mountains of waste it leaves in its wake. The residents of Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd, Dharavi, and Deonar deserve better—not just for themselves but for the city they call home. It is time for Mumbai to reclaim its air, dignity, and promise of opportunity for all. Only then can it truly be the Maximum City.

CASE STUDY 2

Mahul: Every Day a Winter of Struggle

When winter descends upon Mumbai, the city’s privileged neighbourhoods begin to notice the air they breathe. The chill in the air brings a nip and a blanket of smog that makes breathing a conscious effort. Conversations shift to air purifiers, masks, and weather apps tracking the Air Quality Index (AQI). But as the privileged grapple with a few months of poor air, Mahul, a forgotten pocket of Mumbai, battles for breath every single day of the year.

For the 55,000 residents of Mahul, there is no respite, no winter-specific phenomenon to blame, and no luxury of temporary fixes. Encircled by 15 chemical factories, two major oil refineries, and a coal-fired thermal power plant, Mahul lives in an unending storm of pollutants. In this small, isolated neighbourhood, pollution isn’t a seasonal inconvenience; it’s a daily fight for survival.

Tale of Haves & Have-Nots in the Sky

In South Mumbai, as AQI levels rise above 200 during winter months, residents begin to panic. Air purifiers sell out, jogging routines are replaced by indoor yoga, and discussions over brunches are peppered with concerns about the lingering smog. But for Mahul, where AQI levels rarely dip below 300 on any given day, these concerns seem like a distant luxury.

The air here carries the sharp tang of chemicals from the nearby BPCL and HPCL refineries. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides fill the atmosphere, while fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) settles on windowsills, food, and skin. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that PM2.5 levels not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic meter, but in Mahul, these levels routinely exceed 60-70 micrograms, making breathing akin to inhaling poison.

Priya Desai, a 36-year-old mother of two with tuberculosis, describes her life in Mahul with resigned despair: “I don’t worry about my health. I worry about my six-year-old son choking in the middle of the night.” Her son, Aarav, has already been hospitalised three times this year with severe asthma attacks. The family cannot afford to move, trapped by the government’s Project Affected People (PAP) scheme, which placed them in Mahul after a road widening project in Sion-Chunabhatti displaced them.

Unlike the privileged neighbourhoods of Mumbai that experience only a few months of discomfort, Mahul’s residents are exposed to hazardous air year-round. A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed that 90 percent of Mahul’s residents suffer from respiratory ailments, including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many, like Aarav, live with the constant fear of suffocation—a fear that never fades, even after winter gives way to spring.

For the privileged class of Bandra and Worli, winter pollution in Mumbai is a temporary disruption to daily routines. It sparks debates over clean energy, better urban planning, and temporary halts to construction projects. For Mahul, however, these debates remain theoretical, far removed from the urgency of their reality. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2019 to relocate Mahul’s residents, labeling the area “unfit for human habitation.” Yet, years later, the government has failed to act, citing logistical hurdles and a lack of alternative housing. For Mahul, the winter panic in affluent neighbourhoods is a cruel irony—a city that notices pollution for a season but ignores its toxic heart all year round.

In affluent areas of Mumbai, parents worry about whether the air is clean enough for their children to play outside during winter. In Mahul, parents worry whether their children will grow up at all. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2024 found that Mahul’s children have stunted lung development due to prolonged exposure to PM2.5. Schools in Mahul report absenteeism rates of over 40 percent, as children frequently fall sick with respiratory infections. Dr. Arvind Rao, a paediatrician who runs a clinic in Mahul, describes the plight of his young patients: “Most of the children I see here have lungs that resemble those of heavy smokers. Their bodies are fighting battles they don’t even understand.”

Perpetual Fear of Winter

The privileged in Mumbai may curse the haze brought by traffic and construction dust during the colder months, but Mahul’s air carries the emissions of industrial giants all year long. The Tata Power Trombay Thermal Plant, burning over 2.4 million tonnes of coal annually, releases sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter into Mahul’s skies. The refineries of BPCL and HPCL emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), contributing to the toxic cocktail residents inhale daily.

The health impacts are devastating. According to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) data, Mahul’s air regularly exceeds safe pollution limits by 400 percent. Children as young as five are developing chronic respiratory conditions. The elderly, like 68-year-old Ramesh Patel, suffer from constant wheezing and chest pains. “Every breath feels heavy,” Ramesh says. “We are breathing poison, but we have nowhere else to go.”

Mumbai’s battle with air pollution is often framed as a seasonal phenomenon, with the privileged experiencing discomfort during winter months. But Mahul’s story is a stark reminder that for many, pollution is not a passing inconvenience—it is a permanent crisis. While some neighbourhoods worry about AQI charts for a few months a year, Mahul’s residents live in the shadow of industrial chimneys that poison them daily.

The city’s indifference to Mahul’s plight reflects a larger issue: a failure to prioritise environmental justice for the most vulnerable. As Mumbai debates solutions for its winter smog, it must confront the harsh truth that Mahul’s air is a year-round emergency. Until then, the people of Mahul will continue their quiet, desperate fight for something the rest of the city takes for granted—the simple act of breathing.

Key Industrial Establishments in Trombay

Tata Power Trombay Thermal Plant

As Mumbai’s largest coal-fired power plant, Tata Power Trombay burns over 2.4 million tonnes of coal annually to meet the city’s energy needs. While it powers Mumbai’s homes and industries, it also emits large amounts of PM2.5, SO₂, and NOₓ. According to data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the plant accounts for 35 percent of Trombay’s SO₂ emissions and contributes significantly to PM2.5 levels in nearby neighbourhoods. Although the plant has installed scrubbers to control emissions, their effectiveness is limited by the scale of operations, especially during peak demand periods. Residents of Mahul and Chembur experience high respiratory ailments directly linked to the plant’s emissions. A 2024 Greenpeace report identified Tata Power Trombay as one of the city’s most significant contributors to respiratory hospitalisations.

Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF)

RCF is one of India’s leading nitrogen-based fertiliser producers. However, its operations release harmful chemicals such as ammonia, NOₓ, and particulate matter into the air. RCF’s nitrogen-based processes emit significant amounts of NOₓ, a precursor to ground-level ozone and secondary particulate matter. Ammonia leaks further exacerbate air quality issues in the surrounding areas. Chembur and Wadala East, home to thousands of residents, are heavily affected by these emissions. A study conducted by IIT Bombay in 2023 revealed elevated levels of NOₓ and ammonia within a 3-km radius of the plant, correlating with increased cases of chronic bronchitis.

BPCL and HPCL Refineries

Trombay’s refineries, operated by BPCL and HPCL, play a critical role in processing crude oil into fuels and petrochemicals. However, their activities release VOCs, SO₂, and PM₁₀, contributing significantly to Trombay’s pollution burden. The two refineries emit over 15,000 tonnes/year of SO₂ and significant quantities of VOCs. Storage tanks and pipelines often release hydrocarbons, further adding to ground-level ozone formation. In 2023, MPCB audits highlighted frequent violations of emission standards, particularly during fuel storage and transportation. These lapses have intensified the health impact on nearby residents.

Logistics Hubs and Transport Corridors

Trombay’s role as a logistics hub sees thousands of trucks, tankers, and rail freight vehicles pass through daily. This contributes to high levels of PM₁₀, NOₓ, and CO, further compounding the region’s pollution. Roads leading to BPCL, HPCL, and RCF experience frequent congestion, with idling vehicles releasing significant pollutants. A 2024 SAFAR report states these logistics corridors contribute 20 percent of Trombay’s total PM₁₀ emissions.

Trombay stands as a critical case in balancing industrial growth with environmental sustainability. While it powers Mumbai’s economy, its emissions contribute disproportionately to the city’s air pollution crisis. Without immediate intervention, the region’s pollution will continue exacerbating public health and environmental degradation, creating an unsustainable future for both Trombay and Mumbai. This case study highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations, technological innovation, and inclusive urban planning to ensure that Trombay’s industrial might does not come at the cost of its residents’ health and wellbeing.

Misplaced Blame

Mumbai is a city of dreams, a place where hopes are built as high as skyscrapers that dot its ever-changing skyline. It is a city that breathes life into millions, offering shelter, opportunity, and a promise of a better future. But today, this city, known for its indomitable spirit, finds itself gasping for breath. Amidst the smog and pollution that hang heavy in the air, one sector—the real estate and construction industry—bears the brunt of blame.

The truth, however, is more complicated. Mumbai’s construction sites may be visible, but they are not the villains they are made out to be. The dust rising from these sites is not just dust; it is a reflection of homes waiting to be built, schools for children, hospitals for the ailing, bridges, roads, and metros connecting communities. To halt these projects is to halt progress, and the cost of such actions ripples far beyond what meets the eye.

Convenient Target

Picture this: a bustling construction site in the heart of Mumbai. Cranes swing steel beams into place, trucks rumble down dusty roads, and labourers sweat under the blazing sun. This scene is a symbol of growth, but it is also an easy target. The dust and debris are visible, tangible, and easy to blame when the city’s air turns grey. It doesn’t matter that this dust accounts for just 10 percent-15 percent of Mumbai’s PM10 levels, according to SAFAR, compared to 30 percent from transport and 18 percent from industries. What matters is that it is seen.

For policymakers and the public alike, construction has become the face of pollution. In the winter of 2024, when Mumbai’s AQI plunged into the ‘very poor’ category, construction sites in Borivali and Byculla were ordered to shut down. It was a swift decision meant to show action, but it came with consequences that reached far beyond cleaner air for a few days.

When the machines stopped and the dust settled, it wasn’t just buildings that came to a halt—it was the livelihoods of thousands of workers. The shutdown was devastating for people like Ramesh Kumar, a construction labourer from Uttar Pradesh. “I came to Mumbai to work hard and send money back home. But when the site closed, I had no way to earn. I couldn’t even afford food for my family,” he recalls.

Ramesh’s story is not unique. Construction employs over 50,000 daily wage workers in Mumbai alone. These workers, often migrants, live paycheck-to-paycheck. A week without work means going hungry; a month means returning to their villages with shattered dreams. The impact doesn’t stop there. The halt of construction ripples through industries—cement suppliers, transporters, steel manufacturers—each bearing their share of the burden.

Cost to Mumbai’s Growth

Every Mumbaikar dreams of owning a home in this city of aspirations. Yet, each time construction halts, that dream moves further out of reach. Affordable housing projects, many of which are already delayed, are pushed back even further. In 2024, several Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects were frozen for months, leaving thousands of families stuck in unsafe and inadequate conditions.

The delays mean escalating costs for developers, which are ultimately passed on to buyers. Keval Valambhia, Chief Operating Officer of CREDAI-MCHI explains, “When construction stops, it’s not just the workers who suffer. The cost of delays makes housing unaffordable for the middle-class, pushing them further away from their dream homes.”And what about the city’s infrastructure? Each delayed bridge and Metro line means more traffic congestion, and each stalled hospital project means fewer beds for the sick. Halting construction doesn’t just slow growth—it stifles the lifeline of a city striving to accommodate its growing population.

Conclusion: Building Smarter, Not Stopping Progress

Blaming construction is easy, but solutions require vision. Mumbai doesn’t need to stop building—it needs to build smarter. The answer lies in embracing sustainable materials and practices that reduce pollution without halting progress.

Green Cement for a Cleaner Future

Cement production accounts for 7 percent of global CO₂ emissions, but innovations like green cement—made with fly ash and slag—can cut emissions by 30 percent. If every construction site in Mumbai used green cement, the impact on air quality would be profound.

Eco-Friendly Materials

Alternatives like bamboo, recycled steel, and compressed stabilized earth blocks lower carbon footprints and make construction more sustainable. Imagine schools built with materials that don’t harm the planet, homes designed to blend with nature, and hospitals powered by renewable energy.

Cleaner Construction Practices

Dust suppression systems, water sprays, and modular construction techniques can minimize on-site emissions. The goal is not to stop progress but to make it cleaner and more thoughtful.

Shared Responsibility

The air Mumbai breathes is not polluted solely by construction. Vehicles stuck in traffic spew black smoke, industries along Trombay’s coast release sulphur dioxide, and landfills like Deonar burn waste, adding toxins to the air. Each of these sources contributes to the crisis, yet construction bears the brunt of the blame because it is the most visible. As Mumbaikars, we must ask ourselves: Do we want a city that grows responsibly or one that stands still? Progress doesn’t mean pollution. It means finding better ways to build, live, and breathe. Developers must adopt sustainable practices, and policymakers must focus on systemic solutions, not just symbolic actions.

Every halted project represents more than a building—it represents people: families waiting for their first home, workers earning their daily bread, and children dreaming of a better future. Mumbai thrives on ambition and resilience, and its construction sector is the backbone of that spirit. Blaming construction for the city’s air woes is like treating a symptom while ignoring the disease. The solution isn’t to stop building; it’s to build better. Mumbai deserves a skyline that reflects not just its ambition but also its commitment to sustainability. And every Mumbaikar deserves to breathe cleaner air without giving up on the city’s promise of progress.

Because Mumbai isn’t just a city—it’s a living, breathing dream. And every breath counts.