Evaluation and analysis of traffic noise in different zones of Faisalabad – an industrial city of Pakistan

Noise is surely one of the most undesirable by-products of the modern mechanized lifestyle. We see the rush and the fights between the masses relating to the traffic laws everywhere, their violations and their after-shocks. To assess the noise levels in busy roads of Faisalabad, a study was conducted at three different times of a day i.e. morning (9:00 am), noon (3:00 pm) and evening (6:00 pm). Out of a total of 85 sites, 6 sites at morning time, 52 sites at noon time and 27 sites at evening time were exceeding the permissible limit set by Pak-EPA (NEQS). The maximum noise levels recorded were 101.7 dB (A) at State Bank Road, 107.9 dB(A) at Jhal Pull and 107.9 dB(A) at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) at morning, noon and evening, respectively. At the same time, the minimum noise levels recorded were 68.3(A) dB at Jhang Bazar, 75.7 dB(A) at Nishat Abad Pull and 71.3 dB (A) was at Jamia Chistian Chowk in morning, noon and evening, respectively. Overall maximum noise level of 107.9 dB(A) was found at two sites, and the minimum noise level was 68.3 dB(A).