NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013

9. Roads and Transport

9.1 Present Status National Highway 4 (NH-4) passes through the NMMC area. Navi is connected by road and rail to , , Mumbai, JNPT, Uran and Panvel. The work of Thane-Belapur railway and the construction of railway stations are complete, and rail link started functioning from June 2005. is close to Sahar International and Chhatrapati Shivaji domestic airport. A new international & domestic airport is planned in Navi Mumbai. There is a network of roads about 455.53 km in length in NMMC area. (Table 9.1.1). There are footpaths, central dividers and pathways along major roads. NMMC has taken over the roads in Thane Belapur industrial area of MIDC area on 25 th November 2004 The length of roads in industrial of MIDC is 136 Km. NMMC shall improve and maintain the roads, footpaths, drains and streetlights in this area. NMMC has partly improved the roads in this area and balance work is under progress. Navi Mumbai has six rail corridors, 157 km railway system and an independent mainline rail terminal connecting the city directly to other parts of the country. Vashi, Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Belapur, Turbhe, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli and Airoli in Navi Mumbai are on Harbour line of the central railway. The proposed trans-harbour link between Mumbai (Wadala) and Navi Mumbai (Ulwe) is further expected to enhance the status of this city by forming yet another link with Mumbai. MoEF has given clearance to the project. This link shall connect proposed international airport to Mumbal directly. Public transport system in Navi Mumbai comprises train, bus, autorikshaws and taxi. NMMC has its own bus service. In addition the buses of BEST and State Road Transport Corporation, KDMC and interstate private buses ply through Navi Mumbai. NMMC

Transport undertaking has 336 buses catering to 7146192 per month (Table 9.1.2). There are over 2.36 lakh vehicles registered in NMMC area; (Table 9.1.3). This has resulted in traffic problems in certain areas. NMMC has undertaken programme for improvement of internal roads to reduce the problem by Constriction of ROBs, underpasses, service roads & walkways, providing additional lane for left turn, creating turning lane, additional parking space, multi-storey parking and signalised traffic to decongest the traffic movement and speed breakers as per direction of court and conforming to BSI standards. However, the major concern in traffic is increasing number of road accidents and deaths due to accidents. (Table 9.1.4) NMMC conducted study of Palm Beach

34 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013 road accidents through IIT and provided measures (lane markers, crash guards, reflectors, sine boards, additional service road etc) to reduce the accidents.

Foot paths in NMMC Area CIDCO while planning Navi Mumbai had provided foot paths within the city area. Foot paths are important since they are used by pedestrians which form the large cross- section of the society. Besides well maintained foot paths relieve traffic congestion problem on the road thereby minimizing vehicular emission which is mainly responsible for deterioration of air quality. After handing over the area to NMMC, maintenance, repairs as well as providing additional foot paths is being done by NMMC. NMMC has provided slopes to the footpath for access to physically disabled persons.

9.2 Status of Environmental Quality Air Quality Air is clean or unpolluted in areas where no development has taken place. A chemical species foreign to the clean atmosphere is called a contaminant. A contaminant that can cause adverse effect to the receptor (human being, animals, vegetation etc) and which occurs in atmosphere in concentrations sufficiently high to cause the adverse effect is called a pollutant. Air quality is negatively affected by emissions from mobile and point sources; these are directly linked to energy consumption, environmental policy, city density, and transport by motor vehicles and concentration of industries. The main environmental problems associated with air emissions are harm to human health (eye irritation, pulmonary problems, etc) problems, the acidification and eutrophication of water and soils, and damage to natural ecosystems, cultural heritage and crops. Often these are trans-boundary effects, as pollutants in the air can travel a considerable distance away from their sources. In addition, emissions from sources in urban areas can have a significant local impact on human health. In , standards have been stipulated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. under Environment Protection Act 1986 for both sources of pollution (emission) and ambient air quality. Industries are required to meet their obligations of controlling pollution under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 require vehicles to comply with emission norms and obtain pollution under control certificate. Results of air quality monitoring carried out during 2012- 2013 (Table 9.2.1) reveal that air pollutant levels in residential areas in NMMC are within the standards for sulphur

35 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013 dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (Nox) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), Results of air quality monitoring carried out during 2012- 2013 (Table 9.2.4) reveal that air pollutant levels at traffic junctions in NMMC are within the standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (Nox).

Table 9.2.1: Residential Average Ambient Air Quality in NMMC Area

Location SO2 NOx NH3 H2S RSPM

Turbhe MCH, Sector 22 12.23 27.65 22.78 8.71 55.45 Vashi Pump House, Sector 6 13.87 34.91 21.13 9.53 59.84 Koparkhairne MCH, Sector 22 14.68 34.30 32.98 6.05 59.48 Ghansoli Ward Office 14.00 36.33 17.00 9.73 61.55 Belapur Parsik Hill, Sector 11 Sanpada Taki, Sector 4 12.08 33.32 17.35 9.99 53.06

Agroli SCADA Control Panel, 19.88 10.70 5.68 48.93 Sector 11 7.45 Nerul ESR, Sector 22, Phase 14.08 36.05 28.85 8.05 52.14 Juinagar Taki, Sector 11 13.82 35.91 18.14 10.29 61.88 Vashi Hospital, Sector 11 8.35 29.53 14.25 7.73 55.83 Standards 80 80 400 - 60 Note: All values in µg/m3

In order to assess the combined effect of various air pollutants air quality indices are used. One type of indices has been used to assess air quality in NMMC area. Air quality index AQI based on is based on respirable particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide reveals that air quality is fair. The AQI is computed as follows: AQI (Based on TSPM) = 39.2 x {(RSPM/100) + (SO2/80) + (Nox/80)}^ 0.967 As per USEPA, the classes are as follows;

Table 9.2.2: Ambient Air Quality in NMMC Area: Summary

Range(AQI) Class Range(AQI) Class Range(AQI) Class O to 20 Excellent 41 to 60 Fair 81 to 100 Bad 21 to 40 Good 61 to 80 Poor More than 100 Dangerous

36 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013

AQI for various nodes are presented in Table 9.2.3. It can be seen that air quality in NMMC area is almost in fair condition with few exceptions. This may be due to mass work of laying of water supply and sewer lines and concrete roads constructions

Table 9.2.3: Variation in AQI in NMMC Area

Location AQI AQI Turbhe MCH, Sector 22 38.21 Good Vashi Pump House, Sector 6 35.33 Good Koparkhairne MCH, Sector 22 53.66 Fair Ghansoli Ward Office 30.21 Good

Belapur Parsik Hill, Sector 11 29.28 Good Sanpada Taki, Sector 4 45.42 Fair Agroli SCADA Control Panel, Sector 11 48.38 Fair Nerul ESR, Sector 22, Phase 49.39 Fair Juinagar Taki, Sector 11 42.70 Fair Vashi Hospital, Sector 11 44.44 Fair Standards 100

Table 9.2.4: Average Air Quality at Traffic Intersections in NMMC Area

Location SO2 NOx NH3 H2S RSPM Turbhe ESR, Sector 20 19.45 56.64 14.53 12.50 110.54 Koperkhairne Tin Taki, Sector 18 22.93 47.50 29.08 9.45 106.58 Belapur Fire Brigade 20.33 65.93 16.16 14.73 91.38 Turbhe Landfill Site 53.70 48.20 51.80 21.40 107.90 Vashi Ward Office 11.33 43.88 30.10 9.15 107.40 Digha Ward Office 17.15 49.85 28.45 12.00 108.60 Mahape Bridge 25.83 65.55 21.90 13.28 108.70 Rabale Pump House 23.48 79.00 13.13 14.98 115.48 Standards 80 80 400 - 60 Note : All Values in µg/m3

NMMC has commissioned its own mobile monitoring van in 2006-07. Air quality in industrial premises is monitored by MPCB. NMMC shall also monitor air quality in industrial area.

37 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013

Noise Levels

Noise is defined as unwanted sound. The noise levels to which urban population is exposed have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past several decades. This has led to increase in number of complaints received by the public agencies. In India, the Honourable Supreme Court had to give directions to the government in response to public interest litigation. Noise affects people in number of ways. It interferes with sleep, speech communications, and tasks requiring concentration and co-ordination. It may also cause hearing damages and other physiological problems. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, under Environmental Protection Act, 1986, has stipulated day time and night time limits on ambient noise levels in residential, industrial and sensitive areas. (Annexure-VI). Major sources of noise in urban areas are road traffic and industry. Noise levels in all other parts of NMMC exceed standards. Noise was monitored at various residential locations in NMMC area continuously for 8 hrs during 2012-13 (Table 9.2.5). Noise levels were also monitored near traffic junctions continuously for 8 hrs (Table 9.2.6). It was found that noise standards are violated both in residential areas and also at traffic junctions.

Table 9.2.5: Noise Levels in NMMC Area: 8 hrs Monitoring Average Sound Quality in Residential Zone

Maximu Location Average Minimum m Vashi Hospital, Sector 10 53.0 46.8 59.2 Vashi Pump House, Sector 6 54.1 48.3 59.8 Koparkhairne MCH, Sector 22 53.4 48.0 58.8 Ghansoli Ward Office 57.4 51.3 63.5 Nerul ESR, Sec 22, Phase II 52.4 46.0 58.8 Agroli SCADA Control Panel, 52.3 47.0 57.5 Sector 11

Note: All values are in dBA Noise standard for residential area: Daytime 55 dBA and Night time 45 dBA

38 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2012-2013

Table 9.2.6: Noise Levels in NMMC Area: 8 hrs Monitoring Average Sound Quality in Traffic Zone Location Average Minimum Maximum

Vashi Ward Office, Juhugaon 64.0 51.0 67.0 Digha Ward Office 67.8 58.5 69.0 Mahape Bridge 71.3 60.0 74.5 Rabale Pump House 66.4 59.5 74.8 Koparkhairne Tin Taki, Sector 18 68.6 53.5 71.3 Belapur Fire Brigade 67.8 58.5 68.7 Note: All values are in dBA Noise Standards for Industrial Area: Day Time 75 dBA and Night Time 70 dBA

Average Sound Quality in Commercial Zone Location Average MinimumMaximum Sanpada Taki, Sector 4 54.6 49.2 59.9 Juinagar Taki, Sector 11 57.2 50.9 63.5 Turbhe MCH, Sector 22 51.5 48.3 54.8 Note: All values are in dBA Noise levels monitored in residential areas and at the traffic junctions revealed that the Noise levels are on rise. This may be due to ongoing work of laying of sewer lines and water supply lines and construction of concrete roads. 9.3 Actions Taken / Proposed by NMMC for Environmental Projects Department Environmental related projects Remarks Concretisation of road from Pfizer to Ram nagar CE Proposed and re-construction of roads in MIDC area Construction of Foot Bridge at Sector-15 Vashi CE Proposed and Turbe naka Construction and Beautification of Underpass at CE sector 1/3 Nerul, near Mukund company Digha, Proposed Airoli, Rabada, and Ishwarnagar Digha Construction of Road-over-bridge at Sanpada CE Proposed Railway station,Talawali naka and Rabada Construction of Parking facility at sector 15 CE Proposed Belapur CE Improvement of roads in Gaothans and city roads Proposed in NMMC area Beautification & greening of road dividers and CE squares of Belapur, Nerul, Sanpada, Vashi, Proposed Koparkhairane, Airoli and Digha CE Construction of sky walk at sector 3/9 Nerul, 1/3 Proposed Nerul and sector 9 to 15 Vashi Construction of Continuous Air Quality Monitoring CE Proposed Station at Belapur and Nerul

39