Turning down IGI noise levels

The Capital’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is making noise, and a lot of it — much higher than some of the world’s busiest and biggest airports. Sidhartha Roy reports.

The Capital’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is making noise, and a lot of it — much higher than some of the world’s busiest and biggest airports.

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Based on data from five noise-monitoring stations around the airport, the country’s civil aviation regulator has fixed noise limits.

An aircraft flying during the day shouldn't make more than 105 decibels of noise, according the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The limit for night planes is 95 decibels.

The regulator, through a circular, has advised airlines to adhere to the limits. It is, however, yet to decide on action to be taken against violators.

“The limit has been set taking into account how close living quarters are to the airport and other parameters,” said director general of civil aviation EK Bharat Bhushan.

Airports such as Heathrow in London and JFK in New York have lower limits.

“Most new age aircraft don’t make too much noise but the slightly old ones are the real culprits — go much over 100 decibels,” said a senior DGCA official, who didn’t wish to be named. “Unlike many international airports, IGIA doesn’t impose night curfew either.”

Noise at the IGI airport has been a contentious issue for a while. The residents of Vasant Kunj and a hospital near the airport even moved the Delhi high court. Last year, the court asked the DGCA to take immediate steps to check noise pollution.