Air quality monitoring stations in Kochi remain non-functional due to delayed maintenance contracts

Real-time air pollution data is currently unavailable in major parts of Kochi because two key monitoring stations are not working.

Current Status

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board runs Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at Vyttila and Kaloor, but both are non-functional. The maintenance contracts for these two stations and their display systems expired on October 22, 2023. Officials state that the renewal agreement stalled because the contractor quoted a higher rate. A third station located at Eloor remains functional despite its maintenance contract expiring a year ago. The Kaloor station, currently at the Stadium Metro station, was earlier moved from Seematti in Kacheripady after being switched off in November 2022. Both the Vyttila and Kaloor locations currently have active power connections and backup facilities.

Action Taken

A technical committee decided on March 4, 2024, to invite fresh tenders for maintenance work. A tender notice followed on July 28, 2025, with a deadline of August 27, 2025. The board later issued a re-tender notice on January 1, 2026, covering four stations in Vyttila, Kaloor, Eloor, and Palayam in Kozhikode. Officials confirm that an agency has now been shortlisted and talks are underway to finalise the agreement. Meanwhile, staff are conducting manual air pollution testing in areas like Vyttila and Irumpanam to track pollution levels.

Context

Continuous air quality monitoring stations track invisible pollutants in the air automatically every minute of the day. When these automated systems break down or run out of maintenance support, authorities have to rely on manual sample collection. Manual testing takes more time to process in a laboratory before results are finally known.