Chandigarh — AQI Trends
Year-over-year AQI trajectory for Chandigarh (2019–2024). Based on CPCB station data, 2016–present.
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Chandigarh — annual AQI 2019–2024
Year × month heatmap
Worst single days on record
- 2022-11-09Sector-53 (CPCC)452
- 2024-11-14Sector 22 (CPCC)436
- 2024-01-13Sector-53 (CPCC)417
- 2024-01-17Sector-53 (CPCC)415
- 2024-01-14Sector-53 (CPCC)404
- 2024-01-20Sector-53 (CPCC)402
- 2024-11-13Sector 22 (CPCC)400
- 2023-01-03Sector-53 (CPCC)396
- 2024-01-19Sector-53 (CPCC)392
- 2023-01-09Sector-53 (CPCC)384
What the numbers say
Overview
Chandigarh's AQI moved from 126 in 2019 to 153 in 2024 — a rise of 21.4% over 5 years. The long-run trend is worsening, with a regression slope of 9.8 AQI points per year.
The data story
The worst recorded year in Chandigarh was 2024 at AQI 153, while the best was 2020 at AQI 75. The city has posted 20.8% of all measured days above AQI 200 (the Poor threshold), and its worst recorded single day hit 452 on 9 Nov 2022.
Why this pattern
A worsening trend in Chandigarh typically reflects rapid urbanisation, vehicle fleet growth outpacing Bharat Stage VI emission benefits, expanding industrial activity, and in some cases new construction dust. The data points the finger at what policy needs to target next: year-round baseline emissions, not just the winter peak.
What to do with this
For planners and residents, the trend matters as much as today's number. A worsening city needs aggressive source control and personal protection investments like indoor purifiers. An improving city rewards continued policy pressure but still requires caution during peak months. Use the live AQI page for day-to-day decisions and this chart for multi-year context. Year-over-year change of more than 10% in either direction is typically real signal, not noise.