Assessment of Heterogeneous Road Traffic Noise in Nagpur

The objective of the study is to assess the noise scenario and evaluate prediction model for heterogeneous traffic conditions. In the past few years, road traffic of Nagpur has increased significantly due to the rapid increase in the number of vehicles. Noise levels are monitored at six different squares, characterized as interrupted traffic flow due to traffic signals, high population density and heavy traffic where the major sources of noise are engines, exhausts, tires interacting with the road, horns, sound of gear boxes, breaks, etc. The A-weighted time-average sound levels (L_{Aeq, T}) are measured at the different time of day during peak and off-peak traffic hours. To assess the traffic noise more precisely, the noise descriptors such as L₁₀, L₅₀, L₉₀, L_{Aeq, T}, TNI (Traffic Noise Index), NPL (Noise Pollution Level) and NC (Noise Climate) are used. In the present study, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) noise prediction model is used for prediction of noise levels and it is observed that one-hour duration measured L_{Aeq, T} ranged from 71 to 76 dB(A) and 71.6 to 76.3 dB(A) during peak and off peak hours respectively. Due to the heavy traffic the peak hour Sound Exposure Levels (L_AE) at all locations are exceeding permissible limit of 70 dB(A) prescribed by the World Health Organization (W.H.O). Off-peak traffic hour noise levels are within permissible limit except at two locations, Jagnade and HB town square. Significant correlation was obtained when best fit lines generated between measured and predicted values gives R² of 0.455 for all time intervals. Chi-Square test (X²) was also computed to investigate the noise levels at different squares. The results show that the inhabitants of Nagpur city are exposed to high transportation noise during daytime.