Aliganj’s night noise like a busy road, study finds

Lucknow: Aliganj has emerged as the city’s noisiest residential locality during both day and night, according to a noise pollution study released on Thursday by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR).

The report also flagged that while there has been slight improvement after a peak in 2024, noise levels at all monitored sites continue to exceed prescribed standards.

The extent of the problem is reflected in the decibel readings. Normal conversation typically falls between 50 and 60 decibels, while traffic noise ranges from 70 to 85 decibels. Aliganj’s nighttime levels, the study noted, are comparable to being near a busy road even during hours when quieter conditions are expected.

Across residential areas, daytime noise levels ranged from 67.6 to 75.8 decibels, while nighttime levels ranged from 59.2 to 69.2 decibels. These figures are well above the national limits of 55 decibels for daytime and 45 decibels for nighttime in residential zones.

Among residential locations, Aliganj recorded the highest nighttime noise at 69.2 decibels, followed by Vikas Nagar at 66.9, Gomti Nagar at 63.8 and Indira Nagar at 59.2.

Commercial and traffic-heavy areas showed even higher readings. Daytime noise ranged from 77.8 to 83.9 decibels, and nighttime noise from 72.2 to 81.7 decibels, exceeding permissible limits of 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night.

Charbagh was the noisiest commercial area at night with 81.7 decibels, followed by Chowk at 77.8, Alambagh at 76.8 and Aminabad at 72.2.

The report attributed elevated noise primarily to traffic congestion, heavy vehicular movement and commercial activity, particularly in markets and transit hubs. It added that nighttime noise in commercial zones remains high due to heavy vehicles and freight movement. Experts warned that prolonged exposure can contribute to stress, sleep disruption, hearing loss and hypertension.