STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND MODELLING OF NOISE POLLUTION IN DELHI DURING ODD-EVEN VEHICLE RATIONING PROGRAMME

Abstract

Traffic noise is one of the most common problems in metro cities like Delhi which encounters this problem ever since the rising population and vehicle growth. Thus under section 2(a) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, noise has been defined as a pollutant. To combat air and noise pollution the Government of Delhi had launched a restrict and control measure process called odd-even vehicle rationing program in January’16 and April’16 which imposed a driving restriction based on the license number plate of the vehicle. In this present research, efforts have been made to evaluate noise pollution from the statistical study of noise parameters during odd-even program at selected sites against the limits prescribed under Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of Noise by Ministry of Environment and Forests (The Noise Pollution, Regulation and Control, Rules 2000). A continuous 30 days noise data was taken from CPCB Real Time National Noise Monitoring Network during the month of April’16 which marks the beginning of second phase of odd-even vehicle rationing program. The aim of the study is to study its effectiveness and extent of violation. For the study, A-weighted hourly average for peak hours of during daytime and A-weighted daily average of was taken. The noise levels were undertaken for 30 days intervals from 1st April’16 to 30th April’16. The equivalent noise levels were statistically observed using various multiple statistics software. Noise Pollution level (NPL) and Traffic Noise Index (TNI) has been calculated from percentile noise levels to check the level of noise pollution at survey sites. Relative change in equivalent noise level for forecasted and actual data has been observed under the study. Additionally mathematical noise modeling has been done to predict the equivalent noise levels for odd-even program using equations of model. Statistical and mathematical analysis of the noise indices and equivalent noise level demonstrates the fall in noise pollution during odd-even program to a certain extent but still it is above the prescribed noise limits and the city continues to suffer severe noise pollution problems.