Updated 21:22 IST, February 4th 2025
‘Property Prices Linked to Air Quality’? Nithin Kamath’s Latest Post
Kamath’s insights challenge the common belief that air pollution is primarily an issue for Delhi, especially during the winter months.

Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO of Zerodha, has raised a critical point regarding India’s deteriorating air quality, advocating for property prices to be linked to air quality index (AQI) levels in urban areas. In a recent LinkedIn post, Kamath shared his findings after visiting various cities, debunking the myth that only Delhi faces significant air quality challenges, and calling attention to the broader implications for public health.
Kamath, who recorded a podcast in Mumbai, was shocked to find that the AQI in Bandra, a sea-facing area, was over 160. "If the AQI was this high in Bandra, just imagine the levels in the more crowded parts of the town," he noted. He also tested the air quality in Bengaluru's J.P. Nagar, describing the results as equally alarming with an AQI reading of over 120, adding, "Imagine how much worse it might be in the busier parts of the city." The pollution levels in Bengaluru are exacerbated by dust from ongoing construction and poor road conditions, according to Kamath.
Kamath’s insights challenge the common belief that air pollution is primarily an issue for Delhi, especially during the winter months. He pointed out that air quality issues are widespread across India, even in cities considered quieter and less industrialized. This, he argues, has significant implications for public health. According to Kamath, long-term exposure to poor air quality can cause a range of serious health issues, including lung damage, cardiovascular problems, compromised immunity, and even cancer. He stressed the need for equal access to clean air, which is often taken for granted. "We seem to have gotten used to the fact that air pollution is just a part of life, and we’re okay with breathing low-quality air—even though clean air is a fundamental right granted to citizens by the Constitution," Kamath said in his post.
He also raised an important question: should property prices be linked to air quality? "The higher the AQI, the lower the real estate prices should be," he suggested, proposing that areas with poor air quality should see a decrease in property prices and rents. "By living in such areas, you are accepting higher odds of respiratory ailments, cancer, etc.," Kamath added. Kamath’s comments come at a time when air pollution levels in many Indian cities continue to deteriorate, with Delhi frequently seeing AQI levels above 200, which is classified as unhealthy, and even surpassing 500 during peak winter months.
He also highlighted the lack of research in India on the correlation between air quality and real estate values. "There doesn’t seem to be much research on this in India," he stated, encouraging researchers to explore this topic and potentially collaborate with large hospital chains to provide anonymized health data sets for further studies.
Get the latest live news on Republic Business, along with breaking news and top headlines from Budget 2025, business, economy, markets, and around the world.
Published 21:22 IST, February 4th 2025