Zerodha's Nithin Kamath makes a shocking discovery about Bengaluru, asks a tough question to flat buyers
Bryan Johnson, the American tech billionaire known for his anti-ageing project, recently made headlines after cutting short an interview with Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, citing discomfort due to the air quality in India. During the podcast WTF is, he explained that he experienced irritation in his eyes and throat from the air. In response, Nikhil’s brother, Nithin Kamath, who is the founder and CEO of Zerodha, shared his thoughts on the incident.
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Taking to X, Nithin reflected on his experience with Bryan, stating that it challenged a misconception he once had—that only Delhi faced significant air quality issues, particularly in winter. He mentioned that while recording the podcast at a sea-facing apartment in Bandra, Mumbai, the air quality index (AQI) was over 160. He pointed out that if the AQI was that high in Bandra, the air quality in more crowded parts of the city must be much worse.
Bengaluru vs USA and Europe AQI
Nithin Kamath went on to share his experience after purchasing an AQI meter for his office in J.P. Nagar, a quieter area in Bengaluru. He was taken aback when the meter showed an AQI reading of over 120. He noted that the situation might be even worse in the busier parts of the city. Additionally, Bengaluru’s ongoing construction boom and poor road conditions add to the dust and pollution, making the air quality worse. In comparison, most places in the US and Europe maintain AQI levels below 50, which is considered good. He explained the AQI scale, stating that an AQI between 50 and 100 is moderate, 100 to 150 is poor, 150 to 200 is unhealthy, 200 to 250 is severe, and anything above 250 is hazardous.
