New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS): Anti-CAA violence may have taken over the political discourse in Delhi but a prime electoral issue for the national capital has been the worsening air quality.

East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir has sensed it and a foundation run by him is now all set to those open a giant air purifier in South Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, come Friday.

It will be a 20-foot-long prototype air purifier which Gambhir's office claims will be a "first-of-its-kind" that will be inaugurated on Friday in Lajpat Nagar's Central Market. The purifier will aim at treating 250,000-600,000 cubic metres of air per day and release fresh air in return.

The cricketer-turned-politician said, "This air purifier is a prototype. We will analyse its performance and then install several purifiers across the constituency. Every step in the direction of making Delhi pollution free saves lives."

Plummeting air quality has been a top concern across the city after the autumn when Delhi's schools had to be temporarily shut and advisories were issued against venturing out in the open. The AQI touched 999 following which all construction works were paused in the national capital and the Supreme Court had to step in.

Delhites wearing masks on street became a common sight.

Now with election dates for Delhi expected to be announced any time soon, the BJP MP is using the issue to bring electoral dividends for his party.