LOCALS DEMAND NOISE BARRIERS ALONG BUSY AMRA MARG

CBD BELAPUR: The constant noise from the traffic on the Amra Marg, which connects the Sion- Panvel Highway to Belapur, Ulwe and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, has left the residents of nearby housing societies disgruntled. Raising the issue of noise pollution, they have demanded noise barriers along the road.

A group of residents from housing societies such as Neel Siddhi Atlantis, Ekta Vihar, Nilgiri CHS and Harbour View CHS met MLA Manda Mhatre recently to find a solution to the problem of intense sound pollution.

Residents alleged that the heavy vehicles such as container trailers and trucks plying on this road cause noise pollution throughout the day. The group of members also met the commissioner of police Prabhat Ranjan and deputy commissioner of police ( traffic) Arvind Salve over the issue this week.

The residents had submitted several letters in the past to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and other authorities, requesting them to remove the speed breakers on the road and install sound barriers.

“Although there have been repeated complaints to the civic body, the authorities have failed to pay heed to our requests. The decibel level within this residential zone is certainly much higher than permissible limit,” said Shantanu Pandit, a resident of Neel Siddhi Atlantis.

Another resident Abhay Tiwari said, “The traffic on this road will increase further once Ulwe and the upcoming airport develop.”

NMMC had proposed to install noise barriers along the stretch three years ago but the project could not take off as the budgetary allocation was less than the price quoted by the bidders.

“We will have a meeting regarding the same with the concerned departments and decide possible solutions on the issue,” said Arvind Salve, DCP traffic, Navi Mumbai.

MLA Manda Mhatre said, “I have spoken to police commissioner to look into the issue.”