Study and Assessment of Road Traffic Noise at Some Selected Locations of New Delhi India (IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 10/ 015)

IJIRST –International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology| Volume 3 | Issue 10 | March 2017 ISSN (online): 2349-6010 Study and Assessment of Road Traffic Noise at

Some Selected Locations of New Delhi India

Anwar Ali Khan Humaira Ghulshan Lone Joint Director Assistant Professor Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Government of Utter pradesh, Lukhnow, India BGSB University, Rajouri, J & K, India

Pervez Alam Assistant Professor Department of Civil Engineering BGSB University, Rajouri, J & K, India

Abstract

Noise is unwanted sound which is generally unpleasant to hear and affect human beings physically, mentally and physiologically. The study analyzed the noise pollution level at four location of New Delhi, selecting one location in each zone i.e., residential, commercial, industrial and silent. The analytical results show that the highest noise level was 81.5 dB at Okhla industrial area and lowest was 67 dB at Moti Bagh. Comparison of noise level with regulatory standards reveals that the noise levels at all the selected locations has been 25dB more than the prescribed standard given by central pollution control board in day time. Furthermore, it has also shows that the all monitoring locations have been continuously under severe noise exposure. The findings of this study show that there is extreme requirement of remedial measures to curb noise level. Keywords: Road traffic noise, Assessment of Noise ______

I. INTRODUCTION

Noise may be defined as any pressure difference that a human ear can sense like a wave motion is set off when a component sets the adjacent particle of air into motion [1]. Noise has long term effect on human health; it has also vast impact on physical and mental health for the people living in the area of high noise level. High noise level causes sensitivity of aggravation and irritation, harm to auditory mechanisms, number of health related problems like psychological disorders, disturbances of daily activities and performances, hypertensions and schematic heart disease[2]. Noise measurement and sound observation survey, alone or in relationship can be helpful in understanding the complex problem of noise pollution in urban area [3]. In one of the study on road traffic noise done by D. Chakrabarty at Calcutta metropolis for 24 traffic junctions to find out A-Weighted value of Leq [4]. Traffic noise problem depends on the physical mechanisms within the tire-road contact as the rolling tire and its constituents distort, shake and cause air flow within the tire –road contact area. In India, few studies on traffic noise level has been carried out at different cities like Delhi, Bombay, Visakhapatnam, Baroda, Anantpur, Asansol, Nagpur, Chennai etc. (Pancholy et al., 1967 [5]; Rathore, 1982 [6]; Dixit et al.,1982[7]; Rao et al., 1987[8]; Ravindranath et al., 1989[9]; Kumar and Jain, 1994[10]; Chakraborty et al., 2002[11]; Nirjar et al., 2003[12]; Banerjee and Chakraborty, 2006[13]; Thakur, 2006)[14]; Road traffic noise levels vary over time and space, but there is no consensus as to how this variation should be taken into account. Traffic noise is a major environmental problem in Delhi. Systematic noise monitoring in Delhi performed in the last 30 years indicates that noise limits in residential areas have been constantly exceeded by 20–31 dB in daytime and by 15–23 dB at night. Measurement of noise is done by Sound book and noise level meters, at critical noise traffic locations. Sound book has the advantage over noise level meter, of capturing the normal noise exposure even while moving around. Soundbook also plays a major role in measuring impulsive sounds, as their short integration time is suitable for the short integration time of the cochlea, where injury from noise exposure occurs. Noise-level monitoring has been done in free flowing traffic condition for 24 hours a day. According to the (Sommerhoff 2004)[15] data, assemblage and accumulation is one of the significant components in the assessment and managing of urban noise. Noise level was measured at a height of1.5 m (Jamrah et al., 2005) [16] by a sound level meter (Sound level Meter TES-1350 A), an instrument which responds to sound in approximately the same way as the human ear and gives reproducible measurement of sound level (Mato and Mufuruki, 1999) [17]. Objective: The main objective of this paper is to monitor noise level of different locations; selected areas are residential, industrial, commercial and silent zone.

II. METHODOLOGY

Side Selection: Delhi, the capital of India is situated on the banks of river Yamuna in the northern of India. It is the third largest city in India and is one of the oldest cities in the world. The selection of sampling location is very important part of noise monitoring. The 24 hour ambient noise monitoring was carried out in residential area i.e. at New Friends colony, commercial area i.e. Lajpat Nagar , industrial area i.e. Okhla Industrial estate Phase 3 and silent zone i.e. of New Delhi. Table 1. Shows the permissible noise levels by CPCB. Residential Area NFC (New Friends Colony): It is situated at a Latitude of 28.61 North and Longitude is 77.23 East. New friends Colony is one of the affluent and post neighborhoods in South Delhi. It consists of A, B, C and D Blocks.

Fig. 1: Noise monitoring location of residential area

Commercial Area (Lajpat Nagar): It is located at latitude of 28.24 to 28.53 norths and longitude is 76.50 to 77.20 East. Lajpat Nagar is one of the prime commercial areas of Delhi and is situated at south Delhi. It is named in honour of LALA LAJPAT RAI, also known the Lion of Punjab, and is today most known for the Lajpat Nagar Central Market. It is a popular shopping area.

Fig. 2: Noise monitoring location of commercial area

Industrial Area (Okhla Industrial Estate Phase 3): It is located between the latitude of 28.24 -28.54 North and longitude of 76.50 -77.21 East. Okhla is a Suburban colony in South Delhi district located at Delhi border. It is more commonly known as Okhla Industrial Area(OIA), an industrial suburb in South Delhi which is mainly divided into three phases i.e., phase 1, phase 2, phase3.Okhla has lent its name to the nearby planned township of NOIDA(New OkhIa Industrial Development Area).

Fig. 3: Noise monitoring location of Industrial area

Silent Zone ( Moti bhag): The latitude and longitude of Moti Bagh is 28.67 North and 77.20 East. It is an institutional area and has been established by Arakpur Mochi, Situated on the borders of Chanakyapuri, the colony has derived its name from a bagh (garden)."The Bagh is an extensive enclosures enclosed by a stonework wall with a support at each of the four corners and a big gateway towards east.

Fig. 4: Noise monitoring of silent zone

Table – 1 Permissible Noise levels by CPCB Permissible noise level in db (A) S.NO Location Area No. of monitoring sites Day time Night time 1 New Friends colony Residential Area 6 55 50 2 Lajpat Nagar Commercial Area 6 65 55 3 Okhla industrial estate phase III Industrial Area 5 75 70 4 Delhi University Silent Zone 5 50 45

III. NOISE INSTRUMENTATION

Noise monitoring has been carried out at both side of the road using sound level meter () and soundbook. Standard procedure has been adopted for noise monitoring keeping in mind that the height of the instrument should be of 1.5m and it should be 1m away from kerb.

Fig. 5: INSTRUMENT POSITION FROM THE CENTRAL LINE OF ROAD

Sound Level Meter: Noise measurements were made with a Type 1 integrating sound level meter shown in figure. 6 with free-field microphone which meets the accuracy of noise measurement. Bruel and Kjaer, Denmark, modular precision SLM (Model 2231), Type-1 instrument and Larson & Davis SLM version 831, Calibrated the microphone of SLM before starting monitoring.

Fig. 6: Sound level meter

Noise Monitoring Criteria: During ambient noise monitoring sound comes from more than one direction, it is important to choose a microphone and mounting which gives the best possible Omni directional characteristics. The noise measurement equipment will be supervised continuously during the monitoring period and notes will be made of the date, time and prevailing weather conditions. Immediately prior to and following each noise measurement session the accuracy other noise level meter shall be checked using an acoustic calibrator generating a known sound pressure level at a known frequency. Noise measurements should not be made in fog and rain. A wind shield will be used at all times to prevent interference of reflecting noise. As far as is practicable, the pause facility on the noise measurement equipment will be used to exclude extraneous noise (e.g. low flying aircraft and road traffic passing in front of the microphone) so that the results recorded are representative of the site noise.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Noise monitoring adopting standard procedure has been done for four zones i.e., residential, commercial, industrial and silent in the month of September. Residential Area: Below mention figure.7 shows trend of Leq hourly noise level variation at six different location of new frends colony (resdential area). It shows that monitoring station 1 st has maximumm noise level of 80.1 dB at 9am and minimum noise level has been noted as 70.8dB at 4 am. It reveals that’s monitoring station 1st has been conotineously under exposer of very high noise level, as permissible limit prescribed by Centre pollution control board (CPCB) is 55dB in day time and 45dB in night time. Station 2nd

Fig. 7: Trend shows Leq hourly noise level variations at new friend’s colony (residential area)

Commercial Area: Noise monitoring at six locations of Lajpat Nagar commercial area has been done on 03, 04 05, 06, 07, & 08 of September respectively. Monitoring results shown in figure. 8 revels that monitoring stations has been continuously under exposer of very high noise level of more than 75 dB. As the permissible limit of noise level at commercial area is 55dB in night time and 65dB in day time. Results also revealed that the maximum noise level was at noise monitoring station sixth i.e., 80.5 dB in day time at 9 am which more than the permissible limit of 65dB.

Fig. 8: Trend shows Leq hourly noise level variations at Lajpat Nagar (commercial area)

Industrial Area: Okhla industrial area phase II has been selected for noise monitoring during the month of September from 10th of September 2016 to 14th of September from 1st to 5th monitoring locations respectively. Monitoring results shown in figure. 9 reveled that noise level at industrial area has been more than the permissible limit but the variation from the standards is not as much as in

All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 88 Study and Assessment of Road Traffic Noise at Some Selected Locations of New Delhi India (IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 10/ 015) residential and commercial areas. Results show that the maximum noise level was at monitoring station third i.e., 81.5 dB at 9 am in day time and minimum noise level was found at monitoring station fourth at 4am in night time.

Fig. 9: Trend shows Leq hourly noise level variations at Industrial Estate Phase III (Industrial area)

Silent Zone: Five noise monitoring station has been selected for silent zone for 24 hour annual average hourly noise monitoring. The monitoring has been done from 16th September to 20th of September for 1st to 5th noise monitoring station respectively.

Monitoring results shows that the maximum noise level was at monitoring station second that reaches up to 80.5 dB and minimum noise level was at monitoring station fifth noted as 67.0 dB at 4 am in day time. Trend line shown in figure.10 also revealed that the average noise level varies from 67 dB to 77 dB which was more the standard prescribed by CPCB.

Fig. 10: Trend shows Leq hourly noise level variations at Moti Bhag (Silent Zone)

V. CONCLUSION

The study sum up the environmental noise at pre-selected locations of residential, commercial, industrial and silent zone of New Delhi, India. It has been found that all zones are seriously affected with high noise levels. The analytical results show that the highest noise level was 81.5 dB at Okhla industrial area and lowest noise level was 67 dB at Moti Bagh. Comparison of noise level with regulatory standards reveals that the noise levels at all the selected location has been 25dB more than the prescribed standard given by central pollution control board in day time. Hence the study reveals that there is sever noise level at all study area and its required remedial measures to coup up the noise level for healthy environment.

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