Written by Shahzad Gani & Girish Agrawal If there is one health hazard that has crept up unacknowledged on Indian cities, it is noise. Legally, it is already recognised as an air pollutant under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Medically, it is among the leading contributors to hypertension, sleep disruption, stress disorders, and cognitive decline — conditions that together shorten lives and push people toward premature death. Yet, despite this dual recognition, India has barely invested in systematic monitoring or data collection to understand the scale of the damage. A heavy burden Most towns and cities in India routinely endure noise levels far above what is safe. The World Health Organization recommends residential daytime exposure not exceed 55 dB(A) — roughly the volume of a normal conversation. India’s Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 set similar limits: 55 dB from 6 am to 10 pm, and 45 dB at night. But the decibel scale is not linear: a 10 dB increase means a ten-fold rise in intensity. Traffic corridors in Indian cities often exceed 70 dB(A). And, as with air pollution, the burden of this unchecked exposure falls heaviest on those least able to shield themselves — street vendors, delivery workers, traffic police, and residents of informal settlements. For them, the roar of the city is not an occasional nuisance but an everyday occupational hazard that slowly erodes health and well-being. Three failures Systemic gaps compound the problem. Noise monitoring is sparse, enforcement weak, and responsibility scattered across multiple authorities. As with air quality, symbolic fixes — occasional honking bans or festival crackdowns — do little to tackle structural drivers. The result: a chronic, unaddressed public health crisis. This neglect stems from three failures. First, inadequate monitoring leaves policymakers blind. Unlike air pollution, where satellites and low-cost sensors have transformed measurement, noise data in India are sporadic, reactive, and incomplete. Second, structural and cultural barriers hinder enforcement. Without recognition that noise can be as harmful as smog, many citizens tolerate or even participate in noisy practices. Third, governance is fragmented: pollution control boards, municipalities, and police all have partial jurisdiction, limited resources, and weak incentives to act. Path ahead: What must be done? First, treat noise on par with air and water pollution. Researchers and policymakers should design evidence-based interventions grounded in public-health data. Monitoring must expand dramatically. Real-time sensors can create integrated maps of sound exposure. Machine-learning tools can distinguish sources — traffic, construction, industry — and guide targeted responses. Health studies should explicitly track noise exposure, especially near schools, hospitals, and low-income areas. Urban planning must incorporate noise mitigation. Green buffers such as trees and parks absorb sound, while zoning can shield residential areas from high-intensity noise corridors. While limited experiments with green belts for noise-reduction are promising, broader efforts must be scientifically assessed and community-informed. Governance reforms are essential. Noise regulations must be enforceable, backed by transparent data and accountability. Agencies must collaborate across sectors — from pollution boards to transport departments and municipalities. Promoting walking and cycling for urban mobility, a faster transition to electric buses, and enforcing honking restrictions systematically will bring measurable relief. Community engagement matters too. Because noise is tied to cultural and social practices, solutions must be sensitive but firm. Awareness campaigns and partnerships with religious and community leaders can reshape norms without alienating communities. Equity is key Finally, equity must remain central. Those most exposed to noise often have the least means to protect themselves. Just as air purifiers are a luxury, so too are quiet homes and workplaces. The right to quiet must not be a privilege — it must be a baseline condition of public health. India has already learned, painfully, that neglecting air pollution magnifies harm and widens inequity. We cannot repeat the same mistake with noise. The law already names it an air pollutant; what is missing is the political and civic will to act. By treating noise with the seriousness it deserves — integrating it into clean-air agendas, embedding it in urban planning, and making it a priority for public health — we can save lives, protect communities, and reclaim the basic human right to quiet. Shahzad Gani is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi. Girish Agrawal is a Professor at TRIP Centre, IIT Delhi
