Smog Towers in India: High-Tech Hope or Expensive Illusion?

India's air pollution crisis is not just seasonal—it’s a public health emergency. Each winter, cities like Delhi, Kanpur, and Gurugram choke under thick blankets of toxic smog. Despite regulatory crackdowns and public campaigns, the Air Quality Index (AQI) often climbs into the "hazardous" zone.

Amidst mounting pressure, Indian cities have begun installing smog towers—giant air purifiers designed to clean the air in densely populated urban zones. But do they actually work? Or are they simply cosmetic solutions to a deeply structural problem?

Let’s take a closer, evidence-based look at India’s battle against air pollution, and whether smog towers are an effective weapon—or just an expensive distraction.

The State of Air Pollution in India

According to the World Air Quality Report 2024 by IQAir, 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India. Delhi tops the list yet again, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 500 µg/m³ on certain days—20 times higher than WHO's safe limit.

Prolonged exposure to such air leads to severe respiratory issues, heart disease, developmental delays in children, and premature deaths. The Lancet Commission estimates that air pollution causes over 1.6 million deaths annually in India.

Key Source:
World Air Quality Report 2024 – IQAir

What Are Smog Towers?

Smog towers are essentially large-scale air purification units, designed to remove particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from the surrounding air. These structures use multiple layers of filters, usually High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, combined with fans to draw in polluted air and push out cleaner air.

India's first full-scale smog tower, installed at Connaught Place, Delhi, stands 24 meters tall and is capable of cleaning 1,000 cubic meters of air per second within a radius of roughly 1 km.

Government Push for Smog Towers

Following directives from the Supreme Court of India, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi government partnered with IIT Bombay and the University of Minnesota to design and install India’s pilot smog towers.

A second tower was built in Anand Vihar, one of Delhi’s most polluted zones. The government spent over ₹20 crore on the two projects, with similar initiatives being considered in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Lucknow.

Key Source:
Delhi Govt. Smog Tower Initiative

Do Smog Towers Actually Work? Scientific Assessment

Findings from IIT-Delhi and NEERI Studies:

Independent studies by IIT-Delhi and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) found that:

• Smog towers reduce PM2.5 concentrations by 10-30% within a limited radius.

• The effect is localized and does not significantly impact city-wide pollution levels.

• Their performance is affected by wind patterns, humidity, and pollution sources.

• Operational costs run into lakhs per month, due to electricity and filter replacement.

In essence, they may help clean a small pocket of air temporarily, but they don’t fix the source of pollution.

Key Source:
NEERI’s Evaluation of Smog Tower Efficacy

Criticism from Experts and Environmentalists

Environmental activists and scientists have voiced sharp criticism:

“Smog towers are symbolic at best. They distract from policy-level actions like enforcing vehicular norms, cracking down on crop burning, or improving public transport,” said Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

In fact, CSE’s 2025 report notes that investing in electric public transport, reducing construction dust, and tightening industrial emission norms would yield far more tangible results than expensive urban air filters.

Key Source:
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Reports

Global Comparison: Do Other Countries Use Smog Towers?

• China installed a 100-meter smog tower in Xi’an, which reportedly reduced PM2.5 levels by 19% in winter.

• However, China now emphasizes nationwide clean energy transitions, stricter vehicular norms, and pollution trading credits, rather than relying on smog towers.

India, too, must adopt a comprehensive, structural approach that tackles the root of pollution, not just its symptoms.

What Can Actually Work?

Policy and Structural Interventions Needed:

• Transition to cleaner fuels in both industry and transport

• Strengthening the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with enforceable targets

• Subsidizing electric buses and metro expansion in urban areas

• Strict enforcement of construction and demolition waste regulations

• Eliminating stubble burning through bio-decomposition and incentives

Key Source:
National Clean Air Programme – MoEFCC

Conclusion: Smog Towers—Temporary Relief, Not a Long-Term Cure

India’s deployment of smog towers may offer temporary relief in hotspots, especially during high-pollution periods. But their impact is highly localized, costly, and insufficient as a standalone solution.

Real progress in India’s air pollution fight lies in systemic changes, technological innovation, and sustained policy enforcement—not quick-fix infrastructure.

Until we focus on reducing emissions at the source, smog towers will remain more hype than hope.