Locals residing in the vicinity of Pali Hill’s Panorama building, which has gone in for redevelopment, were frustrated by the deafening noise levels from the construction site. Bandra's Pali Hill , once known for its tranquil charm, is going through a wave of redevelopment projects that has shredded its peace. Amid a wave of construction, a silent development is taking shape that could set standards for building projects across Mumbai and perhaps other cities too.
In May, locals residing in the vicinity of Pali Hill’s Panorama building, which has gone in for redevelopment, were frustrated by the deafening noise levels from the construction site. They complained to the builder, Rustomjee Group, who installed noise barriers around the site, making it perhaps the first instance in the city where local activism resulted in the erection of structures that arrest sound emanating from construction sites. Anti-noise activist Sumaira Abdulali, who took the initiative, conducted sound readings before and after the installation of the barriers.
She said that the installation of the barriers resulted in an almost 10dB reduction in noise: “The highest noise recorded before placement of the sound barriers at close quarters when the drill was being cleaned of mud was 103.2dB. When noise barriers were placed, the same a ctivity at a similar distance reduced to 94dB.
The highest noise levels when the drill was cleaned at a distance (before placement of sound barriers) was 94dB. After pl.