New Delhi: Installing noise barriers across Delhi could yield annual health-related savings of up to Rs 5.5 crore per 1,000 people exposed to noise pollution in a 1km stretch, a Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) study has found.
At a conference on recent advances in traffic noise modelling and mitigation for urban areas organised by CSIR-CRRI (Central Road Research Institute) on Friday, researchers discussed solutions to the city’s growing noise pollution and showcased the barriers it has been developing to shield residents living near the city’s flyovers.
Director of CSIR-CRRI, Prof Manoranjan Parida, said, “Air and noise pollution don’t have to be discussed in a sequence,” adding that both continue to affect the city deeply. Dwarka Expressway is an example of effective implementation of noise barriers on highways, he said.
The institute has been recommending the installation of such barriers on several flyovers, including key traffic points, such as Vasant Vihar flyover and ‘silent zones’ like the AIIMS flyover.
According to the study presented by Dr Nasim Akhtar, which undertook a cost-benefit analysis of noise barriers and health impact in case of different modes of transport, exposure to loud noise is linked to several chronic health problems, including sleep disturbance that disrupts productivity, mental health and hormone regulation, stroke, dementia, heart attack and psychological distress.
Akhtar highlighted the possibility that if harmful exposure to noise continues for the next three to five generations, the biological burden can increase the prevalence of genetic disorders.
Claiming the barriers reduce noise levels by 10-19 decibel, depending on their height and material, the study suggested that noise barriers of three to five metres in height be installed along major highways, with residential stretches prioritised.
Suggesting the use of double-glazed windows in houses as a potential way to avoid health risks, the study proposed that vehicles exceeding the permitted number of decibels could be penalised.
Workshops for administrative bodies on noise measurement and control can help provide an efficient framework to tackle the problem, it noted, adding that noise pollution should be curbed at the source with integrated design solutions that are not an afterthought.
Another study co-authored and presented by Dr Rajeev Kumar Mishra highlighted that railway noise levels affecting vulnerable urban communities remain high (around 90 dB) and frequently exceed limits, with diesel locomotives causing the most severe impact. The affected areas include 14 key locations in the city.
