Vizag Pollution 10 Times WHO Limit, AP Highway Section Unsafe: YSRCP MPs
New Delhi: Two YSRCP members on Thursday expressed concern over alarming air pollution levels in Visakhapatnam and the deteriorating condition of the national highway section in Andhra Pradesh during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha.
Golla Baburao said Visakhapatnam has been in the list of India’s 10 most polluted cities for six consecutive years, with pollution levels 10 times above the WHO recommended limit.
According to the Energy and Clean Air Research Center, a total of 67 cities were among the top 10 most polluted daily cities in September 2024; Visakhapatnam appeared at least five times a month, making it the most polluted city in Andhra Pradesh.
The situation in September 2024 and November 2025 has not improved but has worsened, Baburao said, adding that industrial pollution is the primary cause, followed by vehicle emissions, road dust, construction activities and biomass burning.
CPCB said it had identified Visakhapatnam as a non-attainment city as it failed to meet national ambient air quality standards.
Pointing out that vehicles banned in Delhi due to age restrictions are sold to other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Baburao said that more than 70 percent of such vehicles are purchased by people from AP, fueling the pollution crisis.
He noted that 294 posts in the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board remained vacant, hampering monthly and quarterly sampling efforts of air and water bodies. He said although the National Green Tribunal had directed all states to fill the vacancies by April this year, nothing had happened.
Baburao appealed to the Prime Minister and Environment Minister to personally intervene and direct states to fill all vacancies in Pollution Control Boards, leverage the National Clean Air Program initiative, ensure stringent monitoring of air quality in Visakhapatnam and allow CPCB to monitor mitigation measures.
Separately, Meda Raghunadha Reddy raised the issue of Kadapa-Renigunta section of NH-761 under Hyderabad-Chennai Express corridor; this corridor has seriously deteriorated even as work begins on a new highway.
The alignment of the existing road is not impaired due to unsafe extensions, which makes traveling dangerous especially at night, the official said, adding that this section must be urgently realigned and corrected to improve road safety.
Reddy said that until the new green space arrangement is completed, the public has no alternative route and therefore immediate measures such as strengthening the existing road, filling potholes, improving the road surface and installing adequate signboards and safety features need to be taken.
He requested the Union Minister of Transport and Highways to issue necessary instructions to the implementing agencies so that the people of Rayalaseema do not suffer during the construction of the new highway.
