Guetta’s Bangalore concert off after NYE molestation

The Union road transport and highways ministry is considering a proposal to reduce the maximum permissible decibel range of vehicle horns, a move aimed at curbing noise pollution from compulsive honking on Indian roads. Under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, the noise range for vehicle horns has been fixed between 93 decibel (dB) and 112dB. The decibel is measured at a distance of 7.5 metres from the horn and at a height of 0.5 to 1.5 metres.

“Honking has become a nuisance. In India, it’s more of a behavioural issue. We can bring down the decibel level but drivers will have to stop honking,” a senior road ministry official said. The ministry wants to cap the maximum cut-off range to below 100dB. “We are discussing it with automobile manufacturers. We have had several rounds of meetings with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers,” the official said.

In EU nations, the lower noise limit for vehicle horns is 87dB while the upper limit is 112dB. In Australia and Canada, the upper noise limit is 104dB.

Experts warned that chronic exposure to sound beyond 93dB for eight hours can cause irreversible hearing loss. Horns are a major contributor to noise pollution in Indian cities.

Grammy Award-winning DJ and music producer David Guetta’s concert in Bengaluru on Thursday was called off amid conflicting claims from the organisers and the police. The event’s organisers initially claimed police had denied permission for the event at the Supernova Arena, and hinted at the law and order situation in the Karnataka capital following the alleged mass molestation of women on New Year’s Eve. Police rubbished the claim.

In a statement, Karan Singh, CEO of Sunburn (a Percept intellectual property), said, “Due to the present law & order situation in Bengaluru following the events that transpired around New Year’s Eve, the authorities have recommended against holding the David Guetta concert scheduled today in the city.”