Now, checking noise levels a click away

Mumbai: Now, you can access the real-time data on noise levels in the city easily on your mobile phone or desktop. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has decided to put up the real-time data on ambient noise levels across the city on its website. Mumbaikars now access the data on noise levels of 10 locations on the MPCB website.

The locations include Bandra, Wadala, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kandivali, Chembur and Andheri among others. The locations are divided four categories — industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. The standard limit during day and night for each zone are specified. According to the MPCB officials, the motive behind making the data public is to encourage transparency.

“We are now going to release the noise readings on our website so that the public can have easy access to it. The data shows readings in real time so people can have an idea of the noise levels in their areas and its patterns,” said Dr P. Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB.

As per the readings on Tuesday, noise levels were higher than the standard at industrial and commercial zones. Powai, which is under the industrial zone, recorded highest noise levels among other areas with decibels soaring up to 105.9 decibels (dB), more than 30 decibels higher than the standard limit for the industrial zone. Vashi Hospital, a silence zone, showed noise levels at 69.2 dB against the standard limit of 50db.

“The noise levels vary according to its ambient area. The noise levels could be high due to prolonged industrial activity, and moreover, the traffic noise could have added to it. This is why we have made the data public so that other agencies could also have easier access to it for better noise mapping,” added Dr Anbalagan.