Now Reading: Bengaluru noise peaks at 148 decibels, surpassing safe limits
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Bengaluru noise peaks at 148 decibels, surpassing safe limits
Deccan Herald's measurements at Bengaluru junctions recorded noise levels as high as 148 decibels during peak traffic, far above the legal limit of 65 decibels for commercial areas. At K R Market…
The Story in Brief
Deccan Herald's measurements at Bengaluru junctions recorded noise levels as high as 148 decibels during peak traffic, far above the legal limit of 65 decibels for commercial areas. At K R Market and Majestic, average decibels hit 148, while mixed-use areas near vendors and restaurants exceeded 160 dB. A study published in Springer Nature Link found levels up to 108.1 dB(A) in mixed-use zones, with traffic as the main source.
Prolonged exposure to such noise can cause hearing loss, sleep disruption and heart problems, doctors warn. The permissible limits under the Noise Pollution Rules are 65 dB for commercial and 55 dB for residential areas, but enforcement is weak. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has 10 monitoring stations but has not revealed actions taken.
The Indian Opinion
Most Bengalureans treat noise as a nuisance rather than a health hazard, but the decibel readings prove otherwise. The law exists but is rarely enforced, honking zones near hospitals are ignored, and loudspeakers play without permission. It is easy to blame the traffic or vendors, but the real failure is in governance. The question is whether the KSPCB will publish action taken reports and use its monitoring data to actually impose fines.
Source: deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
