Ahmedabad: City noise levels rival industrial zones

Ahmedabad: A separate study by researchers Bhupendra Singh of Central University of Haryana and Nasim Akhtar of CSIR-Central Road Research Institute assessed sound levels across 133 locations in the city — and found residential Ahmedabad matching its industrial areas in relentless, punishing noise.

Using a Class 1 ST-109 sound level meter, the team logged daytime residential noise averaging 79.83 dB, night-time levels at 74.85 dB, and late-night readings persistently high at 61.68 dB. The CPCB’s permissible limits are 55 dB in the day and 45 dB at night. Ahmedabad’s residential areas are exceeding both — throughout the day. A mapping of 449 square kilometres shows that nearly 77% of the city’s land — 480.9 square kilometres — is stuck under constant 70-decibel noise.

The highest single reading — 84.9 dB at Bhairavnath bus stand — was roughly equal to a freight train passing nearby. Even the quietest location, Sardar Patel bus stand, recorded 75 dB. Residential pockets near Kamod Crossroads reached 85 dB. For comparison, industrial zones in the study averaged 80.62 dB during daytime. The cause remains familiar — traffic, congestion and construction — combined with commercial noise spilling directly into residential neighbourhoods.