NMMC --- Environmental Status Report 20092009----20102010

9.999... 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 Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport. A new international & domestic airport is planned in Navi Mumbai.

There is a network of roads about 438.95 km in length in NMMC area. (Table 9.1.1). There are footpaths, central dividers and pathways along major roads. Total length of footpaths and walkways is over 47.24 km (Table 9.1.2). The construction of new footpaths is under progress at GES Sector 27 & 50, Sanpada, Turbhe and Koparkhairane GES Sector 20. 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. , Sanpada, , Nerul, Belapur, Turbhe, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli and in Navi Mumbai are on Harbour line of the central railway.

Plan to develop a domestic airport in Navi Mumbai is in progress.

The proposed trans-harbour link between Mumbai () and Navi Mumbai () 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

45 NMMC --- Environmental Status Report 20092009----20102010 buses ply through Navi Mumbai. NMMC Transport undertaking has 261 buses catering to 72,60,000 per month (Table 9.1.3). There are over 7.89 lakh vehicles registered in of which NMMC area forms part for vehicle registration (Table 9.1.4).

There are over 1,62,837 vehicles registered in NMMC area. (Table 9.1.4).

This has resulted in traffic problems in certain areas. NMMC has undertaken programme for improvement of internal roads to reduce the problem by providing additional lane for left turn, creating turning lane, additional parking space, multi-storey patking 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 9.1.5)

Foot paths in NMMC Area

CIDCO while planning Navi Mumbai complex 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.

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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 India, 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 2009- 2010 (Table 9.2.1) reveal that air pollutant levels in residential areas in NMMC are within the standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (Nox) and reparable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), At few traffic junctions, reparable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) limit is exceeding. This is mainly due to traffic pollution due to increase of traffic density at traffic junctions. This is further confirmed by the monitoring carried out at the traffic junctions (Table 9.2.2).

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Table 9.2.1: Residential Average Ambient Air Quality in NMMC Area

LOCATION SO 2 NO X NH 3 H2S RSPM 2009-10 Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Nerul MCH Sector 15 22.31 45.44 18.90 10.69 74.47 Sanpada, Sector 2 18.80 35.70 14.60 8.85 59.25 Koparkhairne MC H, Sector 22 21.40 52.50 14.23 10.02 56.32 Airoli MCH 13.05 30.05 13.20 6.30 64.10 Belapur Sector 11 20.56 40.78 20.40 11.28 65.89 Vashi Hospital, Sector 10 19.35 52.65 18.70 9.77 63.62 Ghansoli Ward Office 34.90 77.65 13.05 8.15 58.73 Turbhe MCH 13.12 27.98 8.67 6.48 68.90 Digha UHP 27.37 57.06 21.27 11.20 68.70 Standards 80 80 - - 100 Note: All values in µg/m 3 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 (AQI 30-52). 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 Dangerous 100

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 (RSPM) AQI(RSPM) Nerul MCH Sector 15 54.43 Fair Sanpada, Sector 2 43.89 Fair

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Koparkhairne MCH, Sector 22 50.97 Fair Airoli MCH 40.75 Fair Belapur Sector 11 48.94 Fair Vashi Hospital, Sector 10 52.60 Fair Ghansoli Ward Office 67.70 Fair Turbhe MCH 41.52 Fair Digha UHP 59.41 Fair Standards 100

Ambient air quality monitored at the traffic junctions during 0900 hrs to 2100 hrs revealed that the air pollution levels at traffic junctions are on rise. This may be due to ongoing work of laying of sewer lines and water supply lines and construction of concrete roads.

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

LOCATION SO2 NOX NH3 H2S RSPM 2009-10 Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Belapur fire 39.17 80.90 21.86 13.52 87.14 Brigade Koperkhairne 31.46 74.13 21.87 12.29 83.60 Sector 18 Mahape Bridge 38.58 96.80 19.08 16.55 102.73 Rabale Pump 61.00 117.50 15.05 10.15 77.45 House Digha Ward 55.20 123.15 21.10 19.05 86.19 Office Turbhe Sector 41.88 81.93 18.91 12.64 75.00 20 Vashi Fire 16.55 67.50 18.70 11.10 76.49 Brigade Vashi Sector 9 20.68 50.00 24.16 12.68 75.09 Standards 80 80 - - 100

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.

Noise Levels

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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.

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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. (Anexure-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 May 2009- 10 (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 LIMITS 55 dB(A) YEAR LOCATION MIN MAX AVERAGE Belapur Parsik Hill, Sector 11 47.0 69.0 54.0 Koparkhairne MCH, Sector 22 56.0 73.0 60.5 2009- Digha UHP 55.0 64.0 58.5 10 Vashi Hospital, Sector 10 60.5 61.5 56.0 Ghansoli Ward Office 51.0 66.0 54.5 Note: All values are in dBA Noise standard for residential area: Daytime 55 dBA and Night time 45 dBA Table 9.2.6: Noise Levels in NMMC Area: 8 hrs Monitoring

Average Sound Quality In Traffic Zone LIMITS 65 dB(A) YEAR LOCATION MIN MAX AVERAGE Digha Ward Office 65 90 77.5 Rabale Pump House 64 81 72.5 Belapur Fire Brigade 58 76 67.0 2009-10 Turbhe Agar, Sector 20 52 76 64.0 Turbhe, Sector 22 56 66 61.0 Mahape Bridge 64 75 69.5 Koparkhairne, Sector 18 59 76 67.5

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Average Sound Quality In Commercial Zone LIMITS 65 dB(A) YEAR LOCATION MIN MAX AVERAGE Nerul MCH, Sector 15 56 78 59.5 Airoli MCH 54 74 60.5 Turbhe MCH, Sector 22 55 74 64.0 2009 Juingar Taki, Sector 11 54 69 61.5 Sanpada, Sector 4 Taki 53 64 58.5 Sanpada, Sector 2 54 65 59.5 Note: All values are in dBA

9.3 Actions Taken / Proposed by NMMC for Environmental Projects

Department Environmental related projects Remarks CE Portable AQM Station for Turbhe landfill Under Implementation site CE Construction of RCC roads in Vashi, Under Implementation Kopaekhairane and Airoli CE Beautification of various rotaries Under Implementation CE Beautification & medium size tree Under Implementation plantation in road dividers CE Multi-storey Parking facilities in Under Implementation commercial areas. CE Silence zone notification Proposed in 2010 CE Washing of roads by treated sewage Proposed water at least twice a week to reduce SPM level in the city CE Dust emmission from all construction Proposed activity is to be prevented by providing dust screen. CE All open spaces to be converted in Proposed green areas for dust control

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