India’s First In-Bus Air Quality Study Finds Passengers Breathe Cleaner Air for Up to 80% of Travel Time

Pune, 18th December 2025: India’s first in-bus air quality management study, based on continuous particulate matter (PM2.5) monitoring and filtration across 11 IntrCity SmartBus.AQI vehicles, has found that passengers spent up to 80% of their travel time breathing air with PM2.5 levels below 60 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). These levels are significantly cleaner than typical winter ambient air conditions in several North and Central Indian cities.

The analysis, conducted jointly by Respirer Living Sciences and IntrCity SmartBus between December 7 and 14, 2025, offers new insights into passenger exposure to particulate pollution during long-distance road travel. It is the first publicly shared dataset in India to present real-time in-cabin air quality during intercity journeys, adding an important dimension to discussions around mobility and public health.

According to the findings, several routes — including Delhi–Kanpur, Pune–Nagpur, Pune–Bangalore, Delhi–Lucknow, Pathankot–Delhi, Delhi–Katra, and Katra–Delhi — recorded PM2.5 levels below 60 µg/m³ for more than 80% of the journey. The data suggests that cleaner in-cabin air is achievable even while travelling through high-pollution corridors, provided fit-for-purpose air-handling systems are in place.

“This dataset marks a turning point in how we understand air quality during intercity journeys. For the first time, we can quantify what passengers are actually breathing inside buses, identify where risks increase, and highlight where clean-air systems are making a measurable difference,” said Ronak Sutaria, Founder and CEO of Respirer Living Sciences.

While overall exposure remained moderate on most routes, the study noted short and intermittent pollution spikes. High-pollution episodes above 90 µg/m³ typically accounted for less than 10% of total travel time. These spikes were often observed near external pollution hotspots, passenger boarding and deboarding points, and during refreshment breaks.

“Pinpointing specific stretches where exposure spikes occur allows for targeted interventions — whether through ventilation adjustments, operational changes, or better management of boarding and idling practices during high-pollution periods,” Sutaria said, adding that route-level variations provide valuable insights for operators and city authorities.

The report also underlines the potential public health benefits of deploying clean-air solutions at scale. Based on a standard 30-seat capacity per bus, the study estimates that nearly 4,500 passenger journeys were completed on the monitored buses during the 15-day period. Reduced exposure to high pollution levels during these journeys could significantly lower respiratory health risks, particularly during peak winter pollution in northern India.

“Every clean kilometre matters. We’re not just measuring numbers; we’re reducing exposure for thousands of travellers who would otherwise inhale far higher particulate levels,” Sutaria added.

IntrCity SmartBus and Respirer Living Sciences have partnered to launch India’s first air-purified intercity bus fleet, SmartBus.AQI. Respirer’s AI-powered air quality monitoring and filtration technology has been integrated into select IntrCity buses to continuously track and improve cabin air quality, targeting pollutants such as PM2.5, carbon dioxide, dust, and smoke.

“Passengers can view real-time AQI and PM2.5 data onboard and through the IntrCity app, bringing unprecedented transparency to in-transit air quality. Internal tests had shown that in-bus pollution levels can be two to three times higher than safe limits, which led to this collaboration to deploy cleaner air systems on high-pollution routes,” said Manish Rathi, CEO and Co-founder, IntrCity.

Key Takeaways from the Study (December 7–14, 2025):

* Up to 80% of total travel time recorded PM2.5 levels below 60 µg/m³, indicating comparatively healthier in-cabin air on most routes.
* High-pollution episodes above 90 µg/m³ were limited to short bursts, typically accounting for only 10–15% of journey time.
* Several routes maintained cleaner air for over 80% of travel time, including Delhi–Kanpur, Pune–Nagpur, Pune–Bangalore, Delhi–Lucknow, Pathankot–Delhi, Delhi–Katra, and Katra–Delhi.
* An estimated 4,500 passenger journeys benefited from reduced exposure to severe air pollution during the monitoring period.