For the first time, a comprehensive noise mapping will be carried out in the country by using bicycles at over 6,000 locations in ten cities in Maharashtra.

The initiative, taken up by Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) and funded by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), is being launched in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan Dombivli, Nagpur, Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Solapur and Nashik.

Neeri director Rakesh Kumar said that while static noise monitoring was always in place, this comprehensive real-time mapping will be done through bicycles as they are a noiseless mode of transport. Cyclists will record decibel at different areas while travelling across the city.

Noise meters will be attached to the cycles and every cyclist will be designated the routes in the city that they will have to cover. The cyclist will stop for five minutes at major traffic junctions, cross-sections and other noisy areas that have been identified and record the noise levels.

The monitoring will be simultaneously conducted at all locations for 4-5 days in every city. For best results, monitoring will be done during peak hours — 9-11.30am and 5-8.30pm.

Earlier, a study conducted by Neeri had revealed that honking contributes additional 2 to 5 decibels in the cumulative vehicular noise pollution of a city.