Mumbai Metro-3 work on through the night, SoBo residents say their noise complaints ignored

The World Health Organisation said long-term exposure to noise in the range of 85db-90db can lead to hearing loss

Despite several complaints, the police haven’t taken steps to reduce noise from the construction work of Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz corridor), which goes on through the night, claim residents of south Mumbai.

“The noise is between 90 decibels (dB) and 100 decibels (dB), which is well beyond the permissible limit for residential areas and silence zones,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, NGO Watchdog Foundation, which filed a complaint with the Mumbai police on Monday.

The World Health Organisation said long-term exposure to noise in the range of 85db-90db can lead to hearing loss.

Noise standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, require silence zones to have 45dB and 40dB in the day and at night, respectively.

The complaint stated those living on Vidhan Bhavan Marg and near Churchgate station called up the police on May 23 at 3.48am. Eight more complaints were filed between June 9 and June 19 -- all of them between 9pm and 6am—while three complaints were filed between July 8 and 26 between 1am and 4am. The last complaint was filed on August 5 at 6.51am, the NGO stated.

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Nariman Point residents told HT they filed two police complaints about the work going on near YB Chavan Centre between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

“Noise levels are unbearable since March. We can’t get rest. Even the children can’t study,” said Shalini Lunkad, Nariman Point resident, who has filed maximum police complaints from the area. “We understand the Metro authorities want to rush the work, but not at the cost of the health of citizens.”

“Some residents confronted the contractor, but were turned away saying, ‘do what you like, we will not stop the work at night’,” said Pimenta. “We demand an immediate inquiry in the matter. Noise levels need to be measured. The police should file first-information-reports (FIRs) against the contractors of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).”

Representatives of MMRC refused to comment.

“We have already directed officers from different police stations to measure the noise levels at site. A report will be drafted after the investigation. If we find the noise rules are being violated, we will take appropriate action against Metro authorities,” said Pravin Padwal, additional commissioner of police, south region.

Officials from the state pollution control board said they had suggested several measures to reduce noise levels. “We had suggested use of noise barriers, installation of acoustic shields or covering up the area of construction before starting construction. We will check whether it has been done,” said a senior official from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

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