India: Amra Marg may get noise barriers soon

Navi Mumbai: After constant complaints by residents and several failed attempts, the civic body may finally install noise barriers on Amra Marg in Belapur.

The plan, which was conceptualized three years ago, failed to take off after companies, which bid to install these barriers, quoted prices exceeding the budgetary allocation.

In 2011-12, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had proposed to install these barriers and had sanctioned Rs 50 lakh. Recently, the civic body revised that allocation to Rs 4 crore.

The NMMC has also sanctioned a study to investigate the various kinds of sound and ways to insulate the surrounding buildings from it.

“Since the area is flanked by a hill on the east and high-rise buildings on the west, sound reflects like in a valley. Residents have spent lakhs to install double-glass windows to block sounds,” said Tejaswini Pandit, architect and resident of Neel Sidhi Atlantis.

She has been coordinating with the NMMC, who acknowledged her concerns.

“Containers heading to JNPT ply on Amra Marg highway. Since residential complexes have come up on the sides of the highway, the sound is deafening. We have been planning to get noise barriers installed on this route,” said Mohan Dagaonkar, engineer, NMMC.

The study will also give NMMC a rough estimate on the cost for this project. “Requirements of sound barriers for residential areas are different from those installed atop bridges and other open areas. Decibel readings of the area are being recorded,” said Subodh Mule, deputy engineer (environment), NMMC.

After the study is complete, the NMMC will invite tenders from companies to install these barriers.