Investigation and Abatement of Traffic Based Noise in Samba Town of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

Traffic noise is unwanted sound that comes from vehicles operating on roadways. During the study it  was found that noise level of Samba town of Jammu  and Kashmir, India is deteriorating at an alarming  rate. Outdoor Equivalent Noise Level (Leq), Noise  Pollution Level (LNP), Noise Climate (NC) and Traffic  Noise Index (TNI) exhibited variable trends at  different Subareas of both the first year as well as  second year study period. Statistical analysis revealed  significant (p<0.05 positive correlation(r>0) between  Leq and traffic flow at all the subareas except at ATF1  and ATF7 (non-working hours).The value of TNI was  found to be much more higher at all the subareas of  study area than respective Leq of study area. The noise  levels were more than the prescribed and has reached  an alarming level in most areas of the Samba town.  So, it is high time to adopt effective mitigation  measures to prevent the residents of Samba from the  detrimental effects of this menace.