The National-Dubai newspaper takes on Noise in India

In, India’s metropolitan areas, it’s easy to find almost everything. However, there’s one important thing they tend to lack: silence. Even in the middle of a lonely, labyrinthine neighbourhood, the constant din of heavy traffic permeates the air. Even at night, and even when there is no traffic to speak of....read more...click below...
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090328/MOTORING/321424477/1196

Noise Level Reduced Greatly In Mumbai!!!

Publication:Mumbai Mirror ;
Date:Apr 9, 2009;
"Survey finds noise levels across the city reduce greatly as compared to last year"

Citizens of Mumbai have a lot to complain about, what with growing recession, crowded public transport, pothole-ridden roads, manic lifestyles, et al. Thankfully, there’s respite from one quarter: A recent survey has revealed that this crazy metropolis has turned into a quieter place in the last one year – with noise levels having gone down by a significant eight to 10 decibels (db)! Readers will recall that April 7, 2008, was designated as a ‘No-Honking’ day by Mumbai’s traffic police. Students and teachers at Jai Hind College, Churchgate, therefore, decided to cover the city – armed with decibel meters – to check the effect that the diktat would have on Mumbai’s horncrazy public. Under the guidance of Dr Ambika Joshi, Dr Sangita Parab, Prof Udhav Zarekar and Prof Payal Rane, students – from 5 am to 9 pm – measured the noise levels at four places: Charni Road (south Mumbai), Old Nagardas Road at Andheri (western suburb), Daftari Road in Malad (western suburb)and JSD Road in Mulund (eastern suburb). And although there was no traffic police campaign this year, the students and faculty repeated the exercise again on the same date, and at the same venues, to get a comparative analysis. “Surprisingly, the average noise levels during morning peak hours have come down from 75db to 65db, whereas levels during the evening have reduced from 72.5db to 67.5db,” said Prof Rane, who initiated the survey.....
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Interning with Ashoka, I had the fortune of meeting this top 'Guru' who has been fighting noise pollution very effectively. Watch this 18 mins exclusive interview with one of the most influential figures active in this field in India. Sumaira Abdulali has singlehandedly forced a stricter policy framework and its implementation in order to eliminate noise pollution. Definitely inspiring!

sumaira abdulali

Where are the silence zones, HC asks BMC, govt, police
Orders clear demarcation of the zones in the city at the earliest

MUMBAI MIRROR BUREAU The city will soon have clearly specified silence zones, after the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the commissioner of police, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the government to clearly demarcate silence zones in the city.......

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Meeting the 'Quiet Hero of India'--deputy traffic commissioner of police, Mumbai.

My joy knew no bounds when I happened to bump into the deputy traffic commissioner of Police, Mumbai Mr. Harish Baijal at the Khala Ghoda festival recently. This is the man who is set to change the honking scenario in India. It is with his singleminded leadership that Mumbai city has now become much more quieter than before. Within a year's time, nearly 200,000 individuals have been fined by the Mumbai traffic police for non-compliance with the anti-honking regulations. Everyday nearly 1500 are punished for unnecessary / excessive / abnormal honking.
It so happened that at Khala Ghoda arts and culture festival, a street play on no honking was organized. I really liked the initiative and wanted to know more...and there he was--Mr. Baijal 6 feet+ tall. No honking and traffic regulation top on his agenda. After the street-play, even as his special drama crew rushed to the van which was covered with no honking stickers from all sides, I found a moment to meet up with Mr. Baijal and his wife. He called up the driver of the crew van and warned him not to honk, at least for the sake of respecting the stickers on his van! The guy saluted and said 'Yes Sir, I mean No Sir, I will not Honk'. I was invited to Mr. Baijal's office the next day.
Mr. Baijal briefly shared with me his story of success and difficulties with the campaign, and how he himself was not concerned about the issue as recently as 4 years ago. It then struck him one day, and now the rest his history. As we discussed the issue, he was full of new plans and ideas for the creative promotion of this campaign and was busy working out the no honking week details on his computer screen. He very generously offered me 5000 printed anti-honking stickers for promotion of the campaign. I was impressed by his resolve to fight the honking nuisance. His assistant told us how they believe in a change of mindset--'There was a day when it seemed almost impossible that the British would leave this country, but a day came when the country united together for a cause and we got our freedom. No honking is simpler--we only need to make people aware, and our job is done.' Mr. Baijal is looking for more voluntary support and suggestions for the campaign.
It was encouraging to see how an upright, creative, concerned and dedicated senior government official can make a huge difference to our society.

Quiet India travels across India!

I had the opportunity to participate in TATA Jagriti Yatra in December 2008. It was a train trip with 400 youth of India to discover and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of young Indians. I used it as an opportunity to promote the message of Quiet India--Horn Not Ok Please. 400 T-Shirts and stickers were distributed to participants coming from all corners of India. Media people on the train also took the notice. The T-shirts were subsidized through private sponsorships. It was a yet another effort to make No Noise a national issue. Intense debates and discussions on the issue were found taking place in train compartments. We managed to create enough Noise for a Quieter India, notwithstanding the fact that organizers of the Yatra were initially very apprehensive of the whole idea! Thanks to Jagriti Yatra Pune team who helped me with the entire operation--carrying 400 T-shirts and distributing them on a train was certainly a challenging experience!

for more infor on the Yatra visit: http://www.jagritiyatra.com/

No Honking in Delhi

NEW DELHI
: If you like honking your way through the streets of the capital, devoid of concern that a hospital or a school is around, the first day of this New Year is for you to stay indoors!...
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/No_Honking_Day_in_Delhi_on_Jan_1/articleshow/3918027.cms

Hands Off The Horn!

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What do Mumbaikars think about Anti-Honking Campaign?

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Mumbai progresses to tackle Noise Pollution

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