The Urban Air Quality Management (UAQM) framework outlines a series of measures aimed at achieving specific air quality objectives in defined geographical areas. This requires collaborative efforts from governmental bodies, businesses, industries, NGOs, and the public. However, executing action plans based on this framework faces obstacles due to insufficient coordination among administrative institutions within the existing air quality governance system. Presently, air quality policies are crafted at the national level and then relayed to state-level departments for dissemination, eventually reaching state pollution control boards for implementation. However, this approach heavily favours the state pollution control boards and lacks integration with district or local bodies. The divide between national, state, and district/local authorities in terms of legal responsibilities, operational scale, monitoring, and enforcement hampers the effective implementation of air quality policies, resulting in heightened negative impacts on human health. Revamping the air quality governance structure is crucial. It should prioritize managing sources at the lowest administrative levels, like municipalities, to efficiently target resources according to local conditions. Local authorities, armed with community insight through participatory approaches, should drive the shaping and execution of policies addressing pollutant exceedances. National-level policies should tackle broad issues such as vehicle fuel quality, engine technology, and combustion emissions, while empowering local authorities with the responsibility of implementing action plans to improve ambient air quality and continuously assess present and future air quality in their respective regions. Moreover, local authorities should designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA or hotspots) and devise action plans that complement national efforts.