Much noise, no real work

While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) recently announced its plan to install noise barriers on some sections of the newly-inaugurated Eastern Freeway, it seems that the planning authority has forgotten the announcement it made two years ago about installing noise barriers on 11 flyovers, two rails over bridges and Sahar Elevated Road in the city.

The MMRDA wants to install noise barriers on the recently-inaugurated Eastern Freeway. Pic/Bipin Kokate.

Since 2011, the planning authority has installed noise barriers only at three places -- Bandra-Kurla Complex, Jogeshwari -- Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) near IIT Powai and Dahosat railway overbridge. Despite making a provision of Rs 10 crore in its 2011-12 budget, Rs 37.60 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 35 crore in its latest budget to install noise barriers, MMRDA might shelve the plan since some of its officials believe it's a pointless exercise.

The Lalbaug Flyover where the noise barriers were supposed to be installed two years ago but nothing has been done yet. Pic/ Datta Kumbhar

Confirming the same, a senior MMRDA official, requesting anonymity, said, "It is true that we had plans to install noise barriers on 11 flyovers in the city. But now we are contemplating since all flyovers are in the median of roads where noise decibel levels are high. So planting these devices is futile. As a result, we might not install them on the remaining flyovers."

The plan that fell flat
The MMRDA devised the plan of planting noise barriers on all the 11 flyovers it had constructed in Mumbai after successfully installing them in Bandra-Kurla Complex in 2011. It was observed that the noise decibel level had reduced to 60 decibels from 75 decibels.

In the first phase, it was supposed to install noise barriers on Sion Hospital Junction, Hindmata Junction, Thakur Complex, Malad Junction, Santacruz Airport Junction, Navaghar Junction and Dindoshi Junction flyovers.

In the second phase, the installation was slated to happen at King's Circle-Tulpule Chowk, Lalbaug Junction, Barfiwalla Junction and Suman Nagar Junction.u00a0