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IIT-Kanpur has launched MANAS, a city-wide air-quality network in Mumbai, adding 75 solar-powered mini monitoring units to the existing 30 sensors. Costing about INR 50,000 each, these units provide neighborhood-level data across the city's 650 km² area, replacing expensive traditional sensors. The expanded network enables granular pollution tracking, helping authorities design localized mitigation strategies. Eventually, the system will be open to the public, allowing residents to access real-time air-quality information, supporting transparency and better environmental awareness.
IIT-Kanpur has officially introduced the Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences (MANAS), a city-wide air-quality monitoring system aimed at providing more detailed and localized pollution data. The new initiative adds 75 mini monitoring stations to the existing 30 sensors, significantly expanding the network and improving the granularity of air-quality tracking across Mumbai's 650 km² area. Earlier, each sensor covered roughly 25 km², limiting the ability to understand pollution patterns at the neighborhood level. Advertisement
The new units are modular, solar-powered, and cost about INR 50,000 each, compared with traditional sensors that can cost around INR 1.5 crore. Their energy independence allows easier deployment in diverse locations across the city. The project has been developed under IIT-Kanpur's sustainability and air-quality research teams, particularly through its Centre of Excellence in Air-Quality Monitoring, which has been working on low-cost sensor technology for several years.
According to the scientists behind the project, MANAS will enable authorities to make informed decisions on pollution control and provide detailed insights into localized air-quality trends. The expanded network also supports real-time monitoring, which is expected to aid the municipal administration in implementing targeted mitigation measures in areas with higher pollution levels. Over time, the system will provide public access, allowing residents to check air quality in their own neighborhoods, enhancing transparency and awareness.
The MANAS initiative is part of a larger effort to integrate indigenous technologies into urban environmental monitoring, providing cost-effective, scalable solutions for managing air quality in densely populated cities. This development also builds on past efforts by IIT-Kanpur in designing affordable, modular sensor networks, marking a practical step toward sustainable urban management.
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