Needless honking not OK please: You will be fined ₹2,000 in Mumbai soon

Needless honking not OK please: You will be fined ₹2,000 in Mumbai soon 
​ The state government on Thursday informed the Bombay high court it was awaiting presidential nod for implementation of the enactment
MUMBAI Updated: Jun 30, 2017 00:55 IST
Kanchan Chaudhari 
Hindustan TimesSoon, needless honking and honking in silence zones will be punishable offences in Maharashtra. 
The state government on Thursday informed the Bombay high court it was awaiting presidential nod for implementation of provisions of the Maharashtra Transport and Road Safety Act, 2017 which penalises needless honking and honking in silence zones.
The section 20 of the Act prohibits drivers from sounding horns “needlessly or continuously or more than what is necessary to ensure safety” from blowing horns in silence zones, from using multi-toned horns creating harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise, or from driving vehicles after making modification in exhaust leading to creation of undue noise.
Section 23 of the Act provides a penalty of Rs2,000 for each violation. The Maharashtra Assembly passed the enactment in April 2017, advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court.
Kumbhakoni was responding to a bunch of public interest litigations filed by activists like Dr Yashwant Oke, Sumaira Abdulali of Aawaz Foundation and Thane-based activist Dr Mahesh Bedekar complaining about violations of Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, especially during celebration of festivals such as Ganeshotsav, Navratri and dahi handi and inaction of the authorities over complaints.
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The advocate general told the court the state government will conduct noise mapping in 10 cities across Maharashtra, including urban areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Nagpur, in the first phase. While noise monitoring has started in Nagpur, it will start at the nine locations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Mira Bhyander, Vasai-Virar, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Panvel within a week. According to an affidavit filed by Vijay Kharat, assistant inspector general of police, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued a work order to NEERI to carry out noise mapping in these cities.
The affidavit also states a database for noise mapping has been created in 22 cities. 
The MPCB has also procured 25 sound level meters. 
The affidavit said the MPCB has set up real-time continuous noise monitoring stations at 10 locations in and around Mumbai, including Wadala, Bandra, Powai, Andheri, Kandivali, Fort, Chembur, Thane and at Vashi and Mahape in Navi Mumbai and real-time data is being displayed at five of these locations.

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