Noise Pollution Status in Central Mumbai: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Urban noise is mostly associated with urban development. Effect of noise can be temporary or permanent. In Mumbai where land area is a constraint, various land uses formally demarcated have overlapped and sound levels are observed to be above the permissible limits. A study of noise levels at various locations in a select area from Central Mumbai was carried out with noise mapping to get the current status of the noise pollution in the area. Noise maps are drawn with previous (2004) and current (2013) noise levels by overlying the sound level contours upon geographical information. This study gives a perspective of the current and previous noise levels in areas, which are above the recommended guidelines. This study also indicates a significant increase in the sound levels in the study areas over the study period. This study emphasizes on control of the increasing noise pollution at the earliest.