How to check noise on Brigade Road

How to check noise on Brigade Road

Ranjani Govind

Machines have been installed to assess vehicular noise levels

— PHOTO: K. GOPINATHAN

Blast and blare: A study of noise levels in progress on Brigade Road, in Bangalore, on Friday.

Bangalore: For the last few months, there has been a phenomenal increase in vehicular noise on Brigade Road, which prompted Suhail Yusuff, Secretary, Brigade Shops and Establishments Association (BSEA), to come up with the idea of having the noise pollution checked. “What is the use of being mute spectators to the blast and blare? Why not put the sad state of affairs to some good use and stir reactions from the authorities and the public at large?” is Mr. Yusuff’s take.

That was the basis for N.V. Dynamics, dealing in vibration and acoustics, to come into the picture. They installed machines on the busy 380-metre road at four strategic locations to assess vehicular noise levels with their sound measurement filters.

Mr. Yusuff says: “Over 3,000 vehicles pass Brigade Road every hour. The increase in noise is because they enter the road looking for parking space and the paid, automated parking (his brainchild, by the way) allows for more users. .”

The BSEA has asked N.V. Dynamics to prepare a factual report on the noise level, which will be forwarded to the Karnataka Pollution Control Board for further action.

Increased decibel levels can have a debilitating effect on shoppers and people working on Brigade Road, and Mr. Yusuff hopes that the Government and civic agencies, police and citizens will evolve a joint action against the menace.

Easing out one-ways and bringing in automated parking on all roads could help control noise pollution according to him.