As Delhi grappled with dangerously toxic air over the past few weeks, five-star hotels in the national capital introduced a luxury that’s now a necessity: clean air in their rooms.
This November has been one of the most polluted in Delhi’s history, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) staying in the “Very Poor” category every single day. Of these, six days reached “Severe” levels, and two crossed into the alarming “Severe Plus” category.
In the midst of this, US billionaire Bryan Johnson shared a photo of a signboard from The Oberoi. The sign proudly stated, “The average air quality of our guestrooms is 2.4,” thanks to smart air filters installed in every room.
“Hotel selling clean air as a service,” Johnson quipped in his post.
Debarghya (Deedy) Das, an Indian engineer currently employed as an investor in the US, joined the conversation, sharing a similar signboard from the Taj Palace, New Delhi. The board highlighted that their guestroom AQI was 58, a stark contrast to the city’s AQI of 397 on that day.
The discussion shed light on a grim reality: in Delhi, clean air has become a premium offering, available only to those who can afford it.
The persistent high pollution levels result from a complex interplay of factors, with unfavorable weather conditions playing a key role. Delhi experienced an entirely dry month, while low wind speeds and unhelpful wind directions prevented the dispersal of pollutants, causing them to linger heavily in the air.