The residents of Mysore colony recently got much respite from the deafening sound of constant traffic along the Eastern Freeway when the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) decided to put up noise barriers in the area. Now, the same will be done for the Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR).
What are noise barriers?
Noise barriers are barricades built between roads and residential areas to minimise sound pollution. They are pre-galvanised perforated metal sheets which are painted keeping in mind the aesthetics of the surroundings. Their height varies depending upon need.
Where will they be installed and at what cost?
The noise barriers will be installed around MHADA buildings in Tilak Nagar, where the second level of the double-decker flyover begins from the Kurla-end, covering a distance 180-200 metres. An estimated Rs 5 crore will be spent on installation, which is likely to be done by early-2015. A few months ago, the MMRDA had spent around a crore on the project at Mysore colony.
Areas that have been sound-proofed
"This isn't the only place where we are putting up noise barriers. They have been fixed in two to three other locations also," said an MMRDA official. The Eastern Freeway, Kalanagar in Bandra East, IIT-Bombay, Powai and the Dahisar railway over-bridge now have noise barriers.
The MMRDA is also contemplating fixing these barriers on the flyover at Amar Mahal junction, which is part of the SCLR.
Future projects
In December 2010, the MMRDA had announced its intentions to install noise barriers near various flyovers constructed by it like the Sion Hospital junction, Hindmata junction, Thakur complex, Dindoshi, Barfiwala and Suman nagar to name a few. However, it shelved the project later.
