Ahmedabad: How noisy do we get when on our roads? A recent study by two engineering institutes showed how blaring horns break all sound limits set by law.Students of civil engineering department of Gujarat Technological University (GTU) had analysed noise levels in three major junctions of the city — Maninagar railway crossing, Gita Mandir and Sardarnagar — where noise levels exceeded the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) levels during late evenings.The highest noise levels were witnessed during night time at Maninagar railway crossing which was higher than its permissible limit by 85.35%. The second highest noise level was witnessed at Sardarnagar because of the airport. The level there was higher than the permissible limit by 71.33%.In another study, SAL Institute of Technology and Engineering Research had taken sound measurements at some of the main traffic junctions in western Ahmedabad.For instance, at Helmet Crossroads, those going towards Memnagar honked to raise noise levels to 167 decibels (dB), while those coming towards Gujarat University caused an average noise level of 112.6dB.At Gujarat University Crossroads, commuters going towards Helmet caused noise levels that reached up to 117dB.According to the CPCB norms, permissible noise levels should be between 45dB to 55dB.“Following the one and half month long traffic campaign, the traffic department had listed several silence zones in the city but boards have not been put up at the sites,” said a senior AMC official in the traffic department.He added, “Another major task mostly overlooked is that the RTO has to pass vehicles after measuring noise levels of vehicle horns. This too is given a pass,” the official added.

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