The Secretariat area, encompassing the stretch from Zero Point to Paltan Mor and the Secretariat Link Road, has been reaffirmed as a “no horn zone” to combat rising noise pollution.
The decision to designate this administrative hub as a quiet zone was initially reached during an inter-ministerial meeting held by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change back on 25 November 2019. The ban officially came into effect on 17 December 2019.
Under Rule 2(j) of the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, a “Quiet Area” is defined as any location within a 100-metre radius of hospitals, educational institutions, offices, courts, or similar establishments.
Rule 8(2) of the same framework strictly prohibits the sounding of vehicle horns within these zones, while Rule 18 prescribes legal penalties for any violations.
Despite these regulations, various vehicles – including buses, cars, CNG auto-rickshaws, and motorcycles – regularly disregard the ban by honking within the restricted perimeter.
As the country’s primary administrative centre, this persistent noise is creating serious health risks, such as strokes and heart complications, for government officials, staff, traffic police, and pedestrians.
In response to the ongoing violations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a formal letter requesting increased awareness and widespread publicity to ensure the policy is strictly enforced and the health of those in the area is protected.
