MUMBAI: As cars stayed off roads and Mumbaikars at home during Covid-19, noise levels plunged to below 61 decibels (dB), the NGO, Awaaz Foundation, reported. It measured noise levels in residential and commercial areas, including Bandra, Dadar and Mohammed Ali Road, during the year. The report said pre-lockdown decibel levels, consisting mainly of traffic noise, ranged from 65-105dB.”Immediately after lockdown began in March 2020, when traffic was almost at a complete standstill, noise levels were lowest (41.7-66dB). Gradually, as traffic increased noise levels gradually increased too. In December 2020, they reached 64.6-95.6dB. These levels fell short of pre-lockdown levels (65-105dB) but were significantly higher than lockdown, particularly phase one of lockdown,” said foundation convenor Sumaira Abdulali.
