Abstract
Abstract Indian cities are highly dependent on road transport for freight and passenger traffic movements. The estimated road transport led yearly emission inventory of pollutants for 25 million-plus population cities of India indicates vehicle stock as the critical contributor to air pollution in cities. During 2025 the city of Kolkata will be responsible for the emission of 21 668.24 Gg of CO2 followed by 272.81 Gg of CO, 98.21 Gg of NOX, 16.9 Gg of CH4, 93.39 Gg of SO2, 8.6 Gg of PM, and 38.55 Gg of HC due to its 2.79 million vehicles. The total vehicle stock of 25 leading Indian cities increased by 19 % during 2015–2017, and during the same period, Rajkot and Vadodara had the highest rise of 97 % and 94 % respectively. Out of 25 cities total CO2 (220 560 Gg) and CO (3185 Gg) vehicular emissions during 2017, Delhi was the highest contributor with 22 % and 20 % respectively followed by Bengaluru (12 %, 12 %), and Chennai (9 %, 8 %). The GHG emission per unit area of Kolkata during 2017, due to on-road vehicular emission, was the highest amongst the 25 cities of India. For Kolkata, cars were responsible for 35 % for CO2, 55 % of CO, 75 % of CH4, 27 % of PM, omnibuses for 41 % for NOX emission, taxis for 83 % of SO2, and two-wheelers for 36 % of HC emissions.
Highlights
Kolkata city, the erstwhile capital of the British Indian Empire, is a fast-growing metropolis where along with the growth of population and economic activities, the level of air pollution is increasing significantly [1]
The World Bank [5] estimated that about 60 % of freight and 85 % of passenger traffic movements usually depend on on-road transportation only in India
The Automotive Research Association of India, ARAI [41] undertook a pioneering attempt during 2007 to develop the emission factors for automobiles plying on the Indian road. This project aimed at the development of typical values of pollutants emitted by different types of automobiles to the atmosphere
Summary
The erstwhile capital of the British Indian Empire, is a fast-growing metropolis where along with the growth of population and economic activities, the level of air pollution is increasing significantly [1]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report covering 4000 cities of 100 countries for the year 2016, released during June 2018, revealed that Kolkata was only second after Delhi in terms of highly polluted cities of India. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India expressed concern about the faster deterioration of air quality of Kolkata which is the most important city of eastern India in terms of economic reasons [4]. In general, are characterized by the high motor vehicle population as they are excessively dependent on their road network for freight and passenger traffic movements. The World Bank [5] estimated that about 60 % of freight and 85 % of passenger traffic movements usually depend on on-road transportation only in India.
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