India, July 25 -- The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is in the final leg of setting up 53 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) across the state, an official said.

Maharashtra currently has 69 air quality stations, and the addition of 53 new stations will increase the total to 122. "We have identified the areas where the stations will be located; the machines are expected to be installed in the next few weeks," an MPCB official said.

The stations, each costing Rs.9 crore, will monitor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, as well as levels of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and ozone. They will also measure wind direction, wind speed, ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar ra...