NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007

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 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) in 2006-07. The construction of new footpaths is under progress at Nerul GES, Darave, Kopri and Airoli GES. 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.

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

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 226 buses catering to 51,86,285 per month (Table 9.1.3). There are over 7.89 lakh vehicles registered in of which NMMC area forms part for vehicle

39 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007 registration (Table 9.1.4).

There are over 75,356 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 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.

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

40 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007 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 2006- 2007 (Table 9.2.1) reveal that air pollutant levels in residential areas in NMMC are within the standards for respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx). However, values of suspended particulate matter exceeded at few places in traffic area. This is mainly due to traffic pollution. This is further confirmed by the monitoring carried out at the traffic junctions (Table 9.2.2).

Table 9.2.1: Ambient Air Quality in NMMC Area

Location RSP Nox SO2 NH3 H2S CBD Belapur (Parsik Hill) 74 13.0 5.0 3.5 2.0 Nerul 55 12.9 12.7 8.5 3.3 Vashi-Hospital 64 20 7 7 2 Turbhe 61 13.4 9 6.3 1.5 Koparkhairane-Hospital 56 18.2 6.4 6.4 2 Ghansoli 58 18.5 7.1 5.3 3 Airoli Sec-3 69 11.21 15.5 11.5 3.4 Digha UHP 45 9 7.8 6.3 3.5 Env-lab 67 19.7 9.9 4.8 4.2 Standards 100 80 80 - - Note: All standards are for 24 hours. . Sampling carried out on 2006- 2007 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 (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;

41 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007

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. Ambient air quality monitored at the traffic junctions during 0900 hrs to 2100 hrs revealed that the air pollution levels at traffic junctions Rabale, Mahpe and Koperkhairane is exceeding the limits. This us due to ongoing work of Turbhe-Thane concrete road.

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 from 2007-08.

Table 9.2.3: Variation in AQI in NMMC Area

Location AQI (RSPM) CBD Belapur (Parsik Hill) 37.87 Nerul 34.26 Vashi-Hospital 38.35 Turbhe 35.02 Koparkhairane-Hospital 34.17 Ghansoli 35.40 Airoli Sec-3 40.10 Digha UHP 26.23 Env-lab 40.72 Standards 100 Map showing ambient air quality monitoring locations Table 9.2.4: Air Quality at Traffic Intersections in NMMC Area

Location Nox SO2 NH3 H2S RSPM Vashi gaon Sec-30 27.8 10.3 7.8 2.7 92 Rabale 47 15.8 7.0 1.5 100 Koparkhairane Sec-18 52.5 21.5 9.0 6.7 128 Turbhe Sec-20 49.14 24.3 9.42 4.74 89 Nerul Sec –21 35.9 16.2 4.1 2.0 117 Belapur Fire bridgade 25 13 5 3 83 Vashi Fire bridgade 38 31 8 6 89 Airoli Fire bridgade 35 13.2 9.8 6 73 Mahpa Bridge 63.8 13.3 13 10 148 Digha pump hpuse 45.3 36.1 5.8 4.8 98 Standards 80 80 100 Note: All values in µg/m3 Date of Sampling: June2006-April 2007

42 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007

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. (Anexure-VI).

Major sources of noise in urban areas are road traffic and industry. Except for CBD Belapur and Nerul areas, 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 2007 (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

Location Average Minimum Maximum CBD Belapur (Parsik Hill) 61 58 64 Nerul Hospital 64 58 70 Juinagar 62 56 68 Vashi-Hospital 65 60 70 Turbhe 58 52 64 Koparkhairane-Hospital 66 62 70 Ghansoli 64 60 68 Airoli Sec-3 70 62 78 Digha UHP 61 56 66 Env-lab 67 60 74 Note: All values are in dB (A) Fast Noise standard for residential area: Daytime 55 dBA and Night time 45 dBA

43 NMMC - Environmental Status Report 2006-2007

Table 9.2.6: Noise Levels in NMMC Area: 8 hrs Monitoring

Location Average Minimum Maximum Vashi gaon Sec-30 67 60 74 Rabale 72 64 80 Koparkhairane Sec-18 76 68 84 Turbhe Sec-20 70 62 78 Nerul Sec –21 70 66 74 Belapur Fire bridgade 69 62 76 Vashi Fire bridgade 69 64 74 Airoli Fire bridgade 81 74 88 Mahpa Bridge 70 62 78 Digha pump hpuse 61 56 66 Note: All values are in dB (A) Fast

9.3 Actions Taken / Proposed by NMMC for Environmental Projects

Department Environmental related projects Remarks CE Mobile Environmental testing Laboratory. Commissioned CE Portable AQM Station for Airoli Proposed in 2007-08 CE Construction of 6 lanes 13.80 km Thane The work is complete to Belapur RCC road at the cost of Rs111.36 the extent 60 % crs CE Automatic Monitoring of Rainfall Commissioned 6 Nos in 2006-2007 CE Signage/cateyes/solar studs as part of Commissioned on 2006-07 street furniture CE Beautification of rotaries Nerul Circle, Aranja Circle and Shivaji Chowk work completed, Major work is under planning stage in 2007-08 CE Improvements of major roads Work of Amra Marg & Vashi to Koparkhairane near to completion Street furniture has been provided at major places. CE Beautification & medium size tree plantation This work is in progress for in road dividers all major roads CE Parking facilities in commercial areas. Proposed in 2007-08

44