The Mumbai City Noise Mapping Project

by Sumaira Abdulali
12th January 2010
1. Introduction
1.1. The World Health Organization published a paper in 1995, documenting the ill effects of
environmental noise on the well being and health of people and suggesting that noise levels
should remain within certain maximum levels in urban areas.
1.2.The European Union published a Green Paper on future Noise Policy in 1996. This document
claims that a large percentage of people in Europe suffer from unacceptable levels of
environmental noise.
1.3.In the 1996 Green Paper, it was suggested that noise mapping has the potential to be an
effective and relatively inexpensive method for assessment of noise data and its presentation to
serve as a basic planning tool.
1.4.Several European cities have successfully carried out a noise mapping study including the
cities of Birmingham, Westminster, London etc.
1.5.The Noise Mapping UK Project is being implemented in various cities in the UK and is
implemented by DEFRA. The Noise Rules for the UK were modified and notified in 2006 to
make results of noise mapping a baseline for implementation of noise standards.
1.6.The Government of India notified the Noise Rules in 2000. The Noise Rules are based on the
report of a Committee appointed by the Bombay High Court , several Orders of the High Courts
and Supreme Court of India and the WHO Report of 1995. The Bombay High Court appointed
Committee concludes that existing noise levels in urban areas of India are unacceptably high
according to health experts.
1.7.The Bombay High Court, various other High Courts of the Country and the Supreme Court
of India have passed Orders to reduce noise in urban areas through a combination of measures.
2. Background to the Mumbai Noise mapping project
2.1The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has undertaken several
ambitious infrastructure projects directly and through its partners in Government such as the
MSRDC, PWD, etc. These projects include the MUTP and MUIP Projects, a Metro Rail Link,
the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Western Expressway and the Trans Harbour Sea Link which will

pass through existing residential and other areas of the city of Mumbai. Environmental
clearances received for some of these projects stipulate mandatory noise control measures.

2.2The MMRDA has undertaken to carry out a partial noise mapping of the city of Mumbai. The
World Bank has provided funding for this project.
2.3The Project will cover noise levels along transport corridors of Mumbai along the route of the
proposed Metro Rail Link and will provide information towards measures to control noise for the
proposed MUTP Project. Noise from the proposed Metro Rail Link will be kept within check
using this data.
2.4The Noise mapping Project envisaged by the MMRDA will not cover crucial geographic and
other requirements of comprehensive noise mapping in the fast expanding infrastructure of
Mumbai. It will not cover the noise from festivals including Ganpati, Navratri, Id, Diwali and
Christmas, and will not address noise from other proposed infrastructure projects such as the
Trans Harbour Sea Link, the MUIP etc. Lacunae in data availability due to partial data base of
the MMRDA project will not serve the desired objectives of the Noise mapping project as a
planning tool to recommend and implement practical measures for overall control of noise levels
in Mumbai.
3. Project Objectives
3.1The overall project objective for the Noise mapping of Mumbai City is to produce a state of
the art noise map of the city in sufficient detail to allow it to serve as a strategic planning and
noise reduction tool and as an aid for decision making on environmental noise matters. Mumbai
city is in urgent need of scientific data to determine existing noise levels from various sources
and to identify measures to reduce noise levels. Reduction of noise will benefit a large segment
of the population of Mumbai from all sections of Society in terms of their overall health and well
being.
3.2The Noise mapping project would also serve as a strategic planning tool to keep noise levels
from proposed new infrastructure projects within health-based statutory limits. The MMRDA
Noise mapping will provide a guidelines towards monitoring noise levels in the MUTP Project.
Other major infrastructure projects where noise levels require to be kept in check are:
a.The MUIP Project ( implemented by MMRDA)
b.The Bandra-Worli Sea Link (implemented by MSRDC)
c.The Worli-Nariman Point Sea Link (implemented by MSRDC)

d.The Trans Harbour Sea Link (implemented by MSRDC)

e.The proposed Airport at Navi Mumbai (implemented by CIDCO)
f.Various flyovers including the proposed Peddar Road flyover (implemented by
PWD/MSRDC/MCGM)
3.3The proposed Noise mapping project would also take into account seasonal variations in noise
levels including noise from festivals such as Ganpati, Navratri, Diwali, Holi, Id, Christmas, etc.
3.4In order to achieve its objectives the Mumbai City Noise map should:
a.Identify and quantify the scale of noise problems in the city
b.Provide information to the public, to politicians and professionals on the scale and location of
the problems.
c.Assist the authorities to reduce noise levels
d.Be a tool, whereby noise levels are taken into consideration while planning new infrastructure
projects which are likely to contribute to existing noise levels.
e.Suggest mitigation measures required to bring noise levels from existing sources of noise as
well as from the planned infrastructure projects.
f.Project trends of environmental noise
g.Provide a platform for further research into the effects of noise on the people of Mumbai.
h.Unacceptably high levels of noise are adversely affecting the health of residents of Mumbai
already. This condition is likely to worsen unless immediate and holistically planned mitigation
measures are undertaken
3.5The Mumbai Noise mapping is the first of its kind in India. It is proposed to be implemented
in 3 phases.
a.The Pilot Project: Will cover a period of about 3 months and will provide initial data
b.The Detailed Project: Will cover a period of 1 year and will provide comprehensive data

c.Implementation of the data and recommendations arising from the data: Will be carried out by
the Government and by NGOs working on the subject of Noise control in Mumbai including
Awaaz Foundation.
3.6The Mumbai City Noise Mapping Project will be a prototype which can be replicated in other
cities on India.
4. Project Overview:
d.Noise mapping, using modern computer based techniques has already been carried out in a
number of European cities. Of these, the Birmingham Project is the largest and most
comprehensive.
4.1Sources of existing noise in Mumbai:
a.Recreational noise: Primarily Loudspeakers and firecrackers. This type of noise occurs
periodically and is acute during festival seasons. Strict regulations regarding recreational noise
need to be enforced and incorporated in the development plan.
b.Traffic Noise: 1. Vehicles especially autorickshaws used without Silencers, multi-tone and
high-pressure horns, 2. high traffic density roads passing through residential areas, flyovers, Sea
Links etc. 3. Noise from Public transport including buses, trains, train stations etc
c.Construction Noise: from ongoing road and building construction activities including from
machinery without silencers
d.Noise from institutions such as schools
e.Noise from unregulated or semi-regulated industries such as marble cutting, aluminum cutting
etc.
f.Noise from other machinery such as air conditioners, etc
g.Aircraft Noise
4.2Before embarking on Mumbais noise mapping project, the following questions should be
addressed:
a.What type of noise mapping should be undertaken in Mumbai?
b.What sources of environmental noise should be mapped?

c.Who should be the stakeholders concerned in the mapping project?

4.3It is essential that the mapping study covers the existing sources of noise listed in 4.2 above as
well as the planned infrastructure projects including the MUTP, MUIP, Metro Rail Link,
Transharbour Sea Link and Western Expressway Sea Link
4.4The Noise mapping should also cover the other sources of noise such as schools, playgrounds,
recreational and cultural activities etc and their impact on residential and other zones.
4.5Proposed methodology:
a.Surveys: Extensive surveys are required to be carried out to determine the scope of the
proposed detailed noise mapping project. These surveys would form part of the pilot project.
b.Extent: The proposed Noise mapping project would be carried out within the limits of the
MMR.
c.Technology: State of the art technology would be supplied by technical consultants such as
Josts Engineering Limited (specializing in noise control equipment since in collaboration with
their Danish Principals, Bruel & Kjaer Limited). Bruel & Kjaer Limited have experience as
Technical Consultants in various European Noise mapping Projects and would be in a position to
act as technical consultants in the present Project. Their detailed profile is enclosed. Detailed
profile of Josts Engineering Company Limited is also enclosed.
d.Time required: 3 months for the Pilot Project. 1 year (for data collection) + 6 months (for data
analysis and recommendations) for the detailed Project
e.Use of Noise map: In determining existing noise levels, and recommending measures to reduce
noise levels from various sources including recreational noise and proposed infrastructure
projects.
f.Implementation: By Awaaz Foundation in collaboration with Josts Engineering Limited, Bruel
& Kjaer Limtied, Denmark.
4.6The main elements of the Mumbai Noise map are identified as:
a.Acquisition of the following data:
1.Noise Source data on:
Road Traffic

Rail traffic
Air traffic
Recreational noise
Institutional noise
Industrial noise
2.Geographical data on:
Roads, existing and planned
Railways, existing and planned
Buildings, existing and planned
Airports, existing and planned
Recreational facilities, existing and planned
Institutions such as schools, hospitals etc.
Industries including service industries such as garages etc
3.Weather Data
b.Undertake long term noise measurement for validation and short term industrial noise
measurements to provide data on industrial noise.
c.Use data inputs to carry out an initial calculation.
d.Compare the initial maps with noise measurement data obtained specifically for noise mapping
exercise.
e.Modify the calculation if necessary
f.Install mapping software.
g.Train MMRDA and MCGM and other staff involved with the project in use of software
5. Data and other Information to be provided to Mapping Consultant:

5.1Road Traffic data

5.2Rail traffic data
5.3Air traffic data
5.4Recreational noise data
5.5Industrial locations
5.6Location of Institutions such as schools hospitals etc
5.7Location of existing infrastructure
5.8Location of planned infrastructure projects
6. Expected benefits of the noise mapping project:
6.1 The long term benefits of the noise mapping project to the city of Mumbai will be to:
a.Identify the number of citizens living in areas where noise levels are continuously unacceptably
high and to produce a long term strategy to tackle this problem.
b.To identify the number of citizens living in areas where noise levels are periodically
unacceptably high and to produce a long term strategy to tackle this problem.
c.To protect and maintain areas in the city defined as Silence Zones through development
controls.
d.To plan the alignment of proposed infrastructure projects in such a manner as to cause
minimum noise disturbance to citizens.
e.To identify and implement noise mitigation measures where noise levels caused by
infrastructure projects is unavoidable.
f.To suggest strategies for reduction of construction noise.
g.To suggest strategies for reduction of recreational noise.
h.To suggest strategies for MCGM to integrate noise parameters in building permissions
i.To suggest strategies for Transport Commissioner to bring down noise levels from road traffic

j.To provide a base to bring down overall noise levels in the city through a holistically planned
strategy for noise control.
7. Conclusions:
7.1The benefits of the Noise mapping study would include:
a.Reduction of environmental noise
b.Reduction in adverse health effects to citizens affected by excessive noise levels
c.Base data regarding existing noise levels to assist formulation and implementation of strategies
to reduce noise during festival seasons
d.Base data regarding existing noise levels to assist formulation and implementation of stratefies
to reduce noise levels from existing roads, railways, airports etc
e.Base data regarding existing noise levels to assist formulation and implementation of strategies
to reduce noise levels from planned infrastructure projects
7.2Noise mapping studies conducted in other cities of the world have been a success. They are
being used towards their stated purpose and serve as a strategic planning tool, as a noise
reduction tool and for day to day decision making on environmental noise matters.
7.3 It is entirely possible and is essential to conduct a study for the city of Mumbai which will
similarly achieve long term goals in noise reduction before undertaking any new infrastructure
project.
8. Organizations involved in the Noise mapping Project:
1.Awaaz Foundation (NGO)
2.Josts Engineering Company Limited (Profile annexed)
3.Bruel & Kjaer Ltd, Denmark (Profile annexed)
9.Implementation and Supporting data from: Government of Maharashtra
Secretary, Environment
MMRDA

MSRDC
PWD
MRVC
MCGM
Transport Commissioner
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order)
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic)
4.Local NGOs and citizens groups