Noida Residents Intensify Call for Noise Barriers on MP-2 Elevated Road
Fed up with the relentless din of heavy traffic on the 5-kilometer MP-2 elevated road, residents of Noida have renewed their demands for the installation of noise barriers. This persistent issue has escalated into a significant health concern, with the constant traffic noise affecting thousands living in nearby residential pockets, including senior citizens and children.
Historical Context and Recent Appeals
The Vishwakarma Marg stretch, which connects Sectors 18 and 61, passes alarmingly close to residential areas. The problem is not new; back in 2017, a resident had already written to the then Noida CEO, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), the GB Nagar MP, and the Noida MLA regarding this matter. In January 2021, there was a glimmer of hope when the installation of noise barriers received in-principle approvals from the former CEO, and engineering drawings were provided by CSIR-CRRI. However, since then, there has been no tangible progress, leaving residents frustrated and health at risk.
In a renewed effort, residents have now written to the additional chief secretary of the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department (IIDD) of the Uttar Pradesh government on January 20, 2025. They highlighted the worrying noise levels that continue to plague their daily lives.
Exceeding Permissible Noise Limits
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, permissible noise limits near residential areas are set at 55 dB(A) during the daytime (6 am to 10 pm) and 45 dB(A) at night (10 pm to 6 am). Shockingly, a UPPCB report dated March 3, 2025, reveals that noise levels along the 5 km stretch of the elevated road ranged from 70.1 dB(A) to 72.5 dB(A) – far above these permissible limits.
The excessive noise further encroaches upon designated silent zones, such as schools and hospitals in the vicinity of the road. For these areas, the CPCB sets even stricter permissible noise levels at 50 dB during the day and 40 dB at night. Institutions like the Child PGI hospital in Sector 30, the Vishwa Bharti School in Sector 28, and the DPS school in Sector 30 are all located within a distance of 1-2 km from the stretch in question, making them vulnerable to this noise pollution.
Residents Voice Their Struggles
Pushkar Chandna, a resident of Lotus Panache in Sector 110 who often commutes on this stretch, expressed deep concern. "The noise pollution from this elevated road is a long-standing concern for our community, affecting thousands of residents. Noida Authority must take immediate action to mitigate this problem," he said. Chandna has written to various authorities, including the Noida Authority, the UPPCB, the local MP, and MLA, but to no avail.
In his email to the additional chief secretary, Chandna outlined the health risks faced by residents due to this prolonged noise pollution issue. He urged for the installation of see-through noise barriers, similar to those successfully implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) along the Delhi-Dehradun Highway and the Noida to DND KMP Expressway.
Rakhi Sinha (49), a resident of Sector 28, shared her distressing experience. "I have lived in Ward-2A, Arun Vihar, Sector-28, Lane-1 since August 2022, and I'm an outright victim of the MP-2 elevated road as well as its slip road. I was totally shocked at all the noise when I shifted here. Since then, I have demanded the installation of noise barriers on both the roads. A barrier on just one won't help. The slip road or the merging road is as menacing. But there is no action or redress so far," she lamented.
Sinha highlighted that the problem is especially glaring for those living on the first and second floors, as these houses lie almost next to the elevated road and the slip road. "The two roads are deafening us and affecting mental peace 24x7x365 days, as not only small vehicles like two and four-wheelers but also heavy vehicles like buses and trucks ply on this stretch. And the noise is so strong that we keep our windows and doors shut even on the days the AQI is a bit better. We cannot enjoy our balconies as there's nothing like proper relaxation right under our roof!" she added.
Ankur Arun, a Sector 34 resident, succinctly described the situation: "noise level just varies between loud to too loud."
Health Impacts and Community Frustration
Sinha further elaborated on the severe health impacts, noting that residents are suffering from hearing issues, lack of sound sleep, and low work efficiency. "If there's a work-related video conference or watching TV, then I keep the volume high, which further hurts," she said, underscoring the daily challenges faced.
Residents along the stretch echoed these sentiments, expressing frustration over the lack of response from authorities after numerous requests for intervention. They believe that the installation of noise barriers would significantly improve the quality of life and contribute to a healthier environment for tens of thousands living in the vicinity.
The collective voice of Noida residents grows louder as they await concrete action from the authorities to address this pressing issue of noise pollution on the MP-2 elevated road.
