Unnecessary honking, loudspeakers add to noise pollution woes in Kashmir

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-07-19 09:58:09 |

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Sheeba Haji

Bandipora, July 17: As traffic congestion tightens its grip on the Kashmir Valley, residents are raising alarm over an emerging parallel menace—unnecessary honking and the unregulated use of loudspeakers by street vendors and auto-rickshaws.

This growing trend, locals say, is not only fuelling noise pollution but also disturbing the daily rhythm of life, particularly in urban and semi-urban pockets.

Vehicular gridlocks have become routine across major roads, often leaving ambulances and emergency services stranded. However, it’s not just the long traffic snarls that are testing the patience of commuters.

The relentless blaring of horns—often even at red lights or in obvious bottlenecks—is aggravating tensions and contributing to rising cases of road rage. Locals complain that drivers routinely honk without valid reason, even in front of schools, hospitals, or residential areas, where silence is essential.

“Drivers start honking even when it’s obvious that traffic can’t move. It’s sheer impatience and lack of civic sense,” said a resident from Srinagar. The situation is particularly distressing for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients, who suffer the brunt of this auditory assault.

Adding to the chaos is the increasing use of loudspeakers by mobile vendors, who now frequently mount amplifiers or megaphones on their vehicles to advertise goods.

From fruit sellers to utensil hawkers, their announcements begin early in the morning and often continue well into peak hours. Residents say this constant noise disrupts both rest and routine.

“These loudspeakers start before we’re even fully awake. It’s impossible to study or concentrate when there’s shouting and noise right outside your window,” said Heena (name changed), a college student from Srinagar.

Public frustration appears widespread. Many complain that people have lost the patience to wait even a few seconds. “The moment traffic slows, drivers start honking regardless of the reason. There’s no discipline,” noted another commuter.

With the unchecked use of megaphones in residential zones and near sensitive institutions such as schools and hospitals, the need for regulatory intervention is being strongly felt.

Citizens and civil society members are now urging authorities to act—calling for awareness campaigns, noise level monitoring, and stricter enforcement of traffic and civic regulations.

As Kashmir continues its push toward urban development, locals stress that growth must go hand-in-hand with civic responsibility.

Ensuring that public spaces remain livable, especially for the vulnerable, will require not just laws—but also widespread awareness and collective action.