As most of the regions in Bengaluru remained deserted due to Janata Curfew, the air quality saw visible improvement in the city.
Bengaluru breathes fresh air
As reported by Deccan Herald, Major traffic bottlenecks like MG Road, Tumakuru Road, Mysuru Road, Ballari Road, Kanakapura Road, Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road, remained clear and empty on Sunday.
According to the reports, the air quality across the city, including at the Silk Board Junction known for its traffic jams, witnessed a dramatic change.
Apart from other localities, only the city railway station remained unchanged, with its air quality index (AQI) lingering in the three digits.
Since January, Bengaluru’s air pollution levels have been skyrocketing, mainly due to the traffic obstruction.
Particularly, construction work on Namma Metro Phase 2 and the white-topping of roads, had increased the condition over the past few months.
Also Read: Bengaluru Lockdown: Details Over What Will Be Affected And What Will Be Available
Before the Coronavirus panic bothered the city, the AQI for Hebbal, Jayanagar, Nimhans, Central Silk Board junction, and other areas usually stayed above 100. However, the quality of the air has now reached 60 even in many crowded places.
“The air quality has certainly improved. The numbers at the railway station are due to the people coming into the city or going out of the city in the wake of the lockdown,” said an official from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
The state close all borders
Seeing an alarming situation in the state, the Karnataka government has decided to close all borders with its neighboring states.
Yediyurappa requested people from avoiding going to the villages for the next 15 days to control the transmission of the pandemic. “People should realize the seriousness of the lockdown measures and contribute to preventing the spread of infection to others,” he said.
“While all non-essential government establishments will also be closed from today, we are discussing whether there should be a total shutdown similar to what was in place on Sunday. We will take a call on this after discussing this with Opposition leaders by evening,” he added.
