As pollution blankets India’s cities, an urgent question is sparking citizen outrage online: why are crores being paid for homes in toxic air zones? A bold proposal to link real estate prices to AQI is gaining ground — and could force India to finally reckon with the true cost of its air crisis. Advertisement

A user wrote on X: “In real estate, AQI should be a key parameter — lower AQI should mean higher property value, not the other way around.”

The idea is simple but disruptive and it’s catching fire. Why are buyers shelling out millions for homes in areas where the air is unbreathable? Why does pollution carry no financial penalty, while green space is priced as a luxury?

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath has repeatedly pushed this idea, calling for “property price discounts” in neig

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