Noise Pollution in Vasant Kunj, Permanent Solution
Aurobindo Marg, Opp. Safdarjang Airport, Ministry of Civil Aviation,
New Delhi -110003 Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan,
Near Safdarjang Airport
New Delhi-110003
The Member Secretary, The Commissioner Police,
Central Pollution Control Board, Police Headquarter,
Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar I.P.Estate,
New Delhi-110032 New Delhi-110002
The two runways 28 and 29 are practically parallel while a third runway 27 converges and is positioned to the north of runway 28. This third runway is due for closure over the next couple of years and will be re-constructed so that it too is parallel to the other two runways. In the longer term, plans envisage a fourth parallel runway to the south of runway 29.
For airport layouts having parallel runways , such as in Delhi, maximum capacity utilization is achieved by having ” simultaneous parallel runway operations” wherein one runway is used for arrivals whilst the other for departures. Worldwide, either one of the runways is designated preferential for departure and the other for arrivals. Importantly, where flight paths overfly populated areas, to distribute noise pollution evenly, the runways are alternated on a daily/bi-daily/weekly basis – a case in point being London Heathrow.
At Delhi, the new runway 29, while no doubt the longest in India, has 40 % less distance available for landing than the older runway 28. This is because it has a Displaced Landing Threshold due to obstacle clearance required from the SHIV MURTI which is located south of NH8. At the same time, the new runway 29 offers 30% more distance for Take-Off than the old runway 28. What this means is that the new runway 29 is longer for Take-Off yet is shorter for Landing than the old runway 28. Therefore, from an OPERATIONAL point of view, use of new runway 29 for Take-Off and old runway 28 for Landing is a SAFER policy. However, the Delhi Airport Authorities have promulgated that the new runway be used for landings and the old one for departures. This is because the present distance (taxiway-surface route for aircraft) from the Domestic Terminal to the Departure point of runway 29 is extremely long and therefore time consuming. A shorter route is planned but is to be completed only by 2012.
It is a fact that many countries impose restrictions (known as Noise Abatement Procedures) on operations at airports that have flight paths over populated areas. These include only allowing operation by ICAO Stage 3 certified aircraft (least noise generation) and are to the extent of complete curfew during night time – cases in point being London, Frankfurt, Tokyo. India imposes no such restrictions and only requires a standard ICAO departure procedure.
Solutions for Excessive Noise Pollution in Vasant Kunj area due to Runway 29 Operations:
IMMEDIATE (until completion of Easterly Cross Taxiway):
During Off-Peak hours (1100-1700hrs and 2300-0600hrs), only single runway operations be carried out on runway 28. If runway 28 not available due repair work, runway 27 to be used during these hours .If required by International flights, runway 29 to be made available for departure.
This is easily possible as additional runway capacity is not required during the above hours and additional costs (runway/taxiway lighting, ATC manpower etc) are not justifiable vis-à-vis air traffic requirement.
This ensures about 12 hrs of peace for Vasant Kunj residents in a given 24 hour period.
INTERMEDIATE:
Ministry of Civil Aviation should ask DIAL (Airport Operator) to prioritise construction of Easterly Cross Taxiway and ensure its availability at the earliest. This will provide for availability of RWY 29 for departure which is in fact a more desirable situation from the point of view of Air Traffic Control requirements as well as being SAFER operationally.
DGCA India should formulate Noise Abatement Procedures at major Indian Airports. These should include but not be limited to:
a) Prohibition of operations by aircraft not compliant with ICAO Stage 3 Noise. Requirements (Indian Military aircraft excluded).
b) ILS Glideslope intercept at a minimum of 3000 feet Above Ground Level.
c) Delayed Flap Approach.
d) Idle Reversers on landing.
LONG TERM (on completion of Easterly Cross Taxiway):
A scientific study be carried out to ascertain the Noise Pollution levels at different points on the two different Approach Paths (below 2000 feet Above Ground Level)i.e. for Runway 28 and Runway 29. The study should factor in the following:
a) Comparison of Population Densities between the two approach funnels.
b) The number of Hospitals and Schools under the two approach funnels.
On the basis of this study, the allocation of number of days in a week each of the two runways should be used for landing should be calculated such that the greater population is least affected.
We hope that the Powers that may look into some of the suggestions and do some thing immediately in thsi regard as
Regards,
Anil Sood Anil Sharma
President Secretary
Cell. 9810514696 9811320203
A-417, Som Dutt Chamber-1,
5 Bhika Ji Cama Place,
New Delhi-110066
Web Site: www.chetna.org.in
E mail: chetna_regd@rediffmail.com
**The donations to the Society are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80 G of Income Tax Act vide order no. DIT (E) 2005-2006/S-2560/1100 dated 24th August 2006 up to 31-03-2009.
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