As part of its ongoing environmental monitoring initiatives, SVARNIM carried out air-quality assessments across 20 locations in the Puducherry region on 19 September 2026. Readings were taken at busy commercial and traffic-heavy stretches, such as Kalitheerthalkuppam, where dense two-wheeler and vehicular movement along narrow market roads represents a typical source of localised air pollution in the region. At each site, the team recorded on-the-spot readings using GPS-tagged devices, capturing the precise location, date, and time of every measurement to ensure the data could be accurately mapped and verified.

The exercise covered a representative mix of locations across the region, including congested market areas and roadside stretches, to capture a realistic picture of prevailing air-quality conditions rather than relying on a single fixed monitoring point. This helped the team document how air quality varies across different types of urban settings, from high-traffic commercial junctions to comparatively quieter residential stretches.

The data gathered across the 20 locations has helped establish a baseline reference for air quality in Puducherry, which will support continued monitoring, comparison over time, and future analysis. This baseline lays the groundwork for identifying pollution hotspots, tracking seasonal or traffic-related variations, and informing future environmental interventions in the region.