• • Total VOC concentration averaged (9.05 ± 6.24) nmol·mol−1, with alkanes dominating; this baseline is critical for setting emission reduction targets in tropical urban roadside environments.
• • PMF source apportionment quantified gasoline/LPG vehicle exhaust as the largest contributor at 49.9%, followed by solvent use/evaporation (26.1%) and diesel exhaust (14.9%), underscoring the need for targeted control of gasoline-related emissions.
• • SOAFP was limited, with solvent use/evaporation (35.7%) and gasoline/LPG exhaust (34.6%) as main contributors, indicating that VOC control strategies should prioritize these sources to mitigate secondary organic aerosol formation.
• • Diurnal VOC concentrations showed a bimodal pattern aligned with traffic peaks, and T/B and i/n ratios indicated fuel evaporation influence, highlighting the importance of controlling evaporative emissions in hot climates.