MUMBAI/PUNE: In a first for India’s private residential real estate sector, Pune’s upcoming 105-acre integrated township project at North Hinjewadi is set to function like a live environmental laboratory, with scientists and sustainability experts continuously tracking everything from air quality and dust emissions to water efficiency, waste handling and residents’ long-term livability.The initiative has emerged from a strategic partnership between The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Krisala Developers and Hiranandani Communities for the jointly developed township expected to eventually house nearly 68,000 residents across about 10,000 homes.At a time when Maharashtra’s rapidly expanding urban belts are grappling with worsening air pollution, urban heat stress and infrastructure strain, the project aims to create what developers describe as a “performance-led township” rather than merely a certified green project.Unlike conventional green housing projects that largely stop at design-stage certification, TERI’s role will continue through the township’s entire lifecycle — from pre-construction and active construction phases to occupancy and long-term maintenance.The project will monitor Air Quality Index (AQI), liveability standards, labour welfare, construction dust, transport emissions, stormwater systems, waste segregation and governance systems through a structured evaluation matrix developed by TERI.“This goes beyond compliance and focuses on long-term environmental and human health impact,” said Sanjay Seth, senior director, sustainable infrastructure at TERI and CEO of GRIHA Council.The township is targeting IGBC Green Township Platinum certification while simultaneously building a separate TERI-led liveability framework — a dual system experts say is rare in Indian housing projects.Among the planned interventions are outdoor AQI monitoring systems, low-emission construction practices, EV charging infrastructure, cool-surface planning to reduce urban heat island effect, biophilic landscaping, water-efficient systems and low-VOC construction materials.One of the most unusual aspects is the proposed “liveability index”, adapted from city-scale urban assessment frameworks but tailored for township-level monitoring. It will evaluate governance, social infrastructure, transport systems, landscaping, water management, waste systems and air quality across four phases of the township’s lifecycle.The framework also introduces environmental accountability during the construction stage itself — an area often overlooked in India’s real estate sector despite large projects generating substantial dust, noise and vehicular pollution.TERI’s assessment matrix includes monitoring of dust suppression systems, construction vehicle segregation, labour sanitation, child labour prohibition, women-friendly labour facilities, stormwater systems, waste recycling and low-carbon construction materials.Explaining the concept behind the country’s first environment lab for a private township project, Vishal Agarwal said, “The TERI Lab at our township is being designed as an experience and demonstration centre to showcase sustainable urban living solutions with a focus on air quality management, environmental monitoring and livability enhancement technologies, along with ideal construction practices. It reflects the practical implementation of TERI’s research-backed sustainability frameworks within a residential township ecosystem.“Agarwal said the lab and on-site walkthroughs will demonstrate low-carbon construction practices, landscaping interventions, water infrastructure systems, solid waste management measures, AQI-control mechanisms such as CPCB-compliant diesel generators, and technologies aimed at maintaining healthy AQI levels and enhancing the township’s livability index.Urban sustainability experts say the model could become significant for fast-growing urban regions around Mumbai, Pune and other Indian metros, where townships are increasingly competing not just on amenities and branding but also on environmental performance and long-term quality of life.Developers claim the project may eventually serve as a benchmark for future climate-resilient residential townships across India.