Steel barrier to prevent noise at Games Village

New Delhi: The ball has finally set rolling for erection of a sound-proof steel barrier covering the rail tracks close to Commonwealth Games Village near Akshardham temple here keeping the athletes’ comfort in mind.

The work on the Rs two crore project, which got delayed for more than a year due to various reasons, will start from Monday. The sound-proof barrier will cover the tracks for half a km. The stretch is considered one of the busiest in the country emanating noise levels touching 65 decibel. Since the tracks are near to the Games Village, the sound of passing trains may pose a problem for athletes, especially in the night when the noise level is the maximum. The concrete steel barrier of three metres height will reduce the noise level to about 25 decibel, a senior DDA official involved in the project said. “We have awarded the contract to LLoyd Insulations (India) for constructing the 500-metre long sound-proof barrier near Games Village,” he said. About the delay, he said, the change in design and lack of response to the first tender were the main reasons. “We had to make some changes in the tendering documents to get suitable bidders. However, now that the project is on track we are expecting to complete the work by September 15,” he said. DDA is constructing the sound-proof barrier with assistance from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The barrier will have noise absorbing component including acoustic panel to protect the Village from the sound of constant movement of trains. Since the barrier will come up just five metres away from the rail tracks, its construction is being carried out under the supervision of railways. However, the barrier will be temporary in nature as it will be removed in November after the Games. PTI