Delhi pollution reduces footfalls at commercial, tourist sites

The new study done by climate-tech start-up Blue Sky Analytics and data analytics firm Near conducted research at Delhi’s shopping, commercial and tourist hubs — Karol Bagh, Lodhi Gardens and Connaught Place — over a period of six months, from October 2019 to March 2020

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Researchers have found out that footfalls at markets, commercial and tourist places in Delhi has gone down by 33 per cent due to air pollution going up. The new study done by climate-tech start-up Blue Sky Analytics and data analytics firm Near conducted research at Delhi’s shopping, commercial and tourist hubs — Karol Bagh, Lodhi Gardens and Connaught Place — over a period of six months, from October 2019 to March 2020.

PTI reported that the researchers compared footfall trends to rising pollution levels with air quality data provided by Blue Sky Analytics which used machine learning and combined real time ground observations from more than 250 Central Pollution Control Board air quality sensors with near real time satellite data to provide a continuous spatio-temporal map for PM2.5 and PM10. In Connaught Place, for instance, footfall dropped from around 17,000 a day to 14,000 a day in the weeks when PM2.5 concentration rose to a high of 336 microgram per cubic metre.

 “Through this report, we hope to put a spotlight on the impact pollution has on consumer behaviour, health and commercial activity. We hope this study encourages both public and private governing bodies to strongly advocate the need for cleaner air and promote work on solutions to this crisis.”

— Abhilasha Purwar, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Sky Analytics

In Karol Bagh, the densely populated residential and commercial area, consumer footfall dropped by a massive 33 per cent when pollution levels increased by 25 percent in early November. “The PM levels rose to 443 microgram per cubic metre during week five (November 2021) and this could also have caused consumers to decide against travel,” the report said. It mentioned that Karol Bagh was visited more by the 45-plus age group, hence a dip in footfall due to an increase in pollution levels was more noticeable.

In Lodhi Gardens, a city park that offers over 90 acres of green walking space for local residents, footfall dipped from around 900 a day to around 700 a day from October end till mid-November, the study showed.

Chief Executive Officer, Blue Sky Analytics, Abhilasha Purwar said, “Through this report, we hope to put a spotlight on the impact pollution has on consumer behaviour, health and commercial activity. We hope this study encourages both public and private governing bodies to strongly advocate the need for cleaner air and promote work on solutions to this crisis,” Purwar said.

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