Gurgaon noise levels blare past safe zone

GURGAON: The cyber city needs to tone it down, or else the residents risk splitting their ears.

GURGAON: The cyber city needs to tone it down, or else the residents risk splitting their ears.

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A Haryana pollution control board survey reveals the noise level in and around Gurgaon’s busy MG Road and Rajiv Chowk has increased by more than 20% over the past two years, and is much above the permissible limit.

Surveyors recorded 76 decibels on MG Road and 80 at Rajiv Chowk, a significant jump considering the 2014 figures of 60 and 65 decibels for the two spots.

The noise standards for automobiles, domestic appliances and construction equipment, notified in the environment (protection) rules of 1986 for a commercial area, are 55 to 65 decibels. For a residential area, the noise shouldn’t exceed 55 decibels.

The acceptable range for human ears is around 40 to 50 decibels, equivalent to the sound of a large electrical transformer at 100 feet.

But at 80 decibels, almost equal to the din that a food blender creates, an eight-hour exposure can cause irreparable hearing loss. That’s the kind of noise people in two of Gurgaon’s busiest spots are exposed to.

“Around 70% of noise pollution in the city is caused by vehicles. The most problematic areas are those that are close to NH8 and Metro stations,” regional pollution officer Bhupender Singh said.

Around 45,000 driving licences and 80,000 vehicle registration certificates are issued annually in Gurgaon.

The annoying buzzing sound comes from an endless stream of vehicles on national highway 8, which cuts Gurgaon into two halves, and the arterial roads that lead to offices and factories of some of India’s biggest companies. Lack of sound barriers on these roads leaves residents with little option but to cup their palms over their ears, or snug a pillow over their heads.

“There are no sound barriers along the highway. It is difficult to sleep at night because of the traffic noise,” said Shilpa Kaushik, a resident of Heritage City, near MGF Mall.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said barriers, which are known to cut at least 5 decibels, could be installed if the pollution board identifies stretches that require such measures. “We need a noise mapping from the board,” said Ashok Kumar, the project director of NHAI.

Officials of the pollution board admitted that a noise mapping, though essential for the city, was never done. “We do not have the power to conduct these surveys. Agencies such as NHAI, Delhi Metro and Road Transport Authority are responsible for such studies,” an official said.

When Hindustan Times tested noise levels at 10 crowded spots on Wednesday with a mobile phone app, it was found that areas adjoining flyovers, highways and roads recorded sound in the 80-decibel bracket.

In areas around Rajiv Chowk, Cyber Hub, Galleria Market, Iffco Chowk, Huda Metro station, Signature Tower, Golf Course Road, Sikanderpur, Nathupur and Sohna Road, the noise level varied from 74 to 84 decibels. It is bound to be more during morning and evening rush hours.