he team records readings at 10 prominent chowks along the Laxmi Road route, including Belbaug, Ganpati, Limbraj, Kunte, Umbrya, Gokhale, Shedge, Holkar, Tilak and Khandoji chowks. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)The overall average sound level recorded along Pune’s Laxmi Road procession route on Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) day stood at 104.5 decibels (dB), the highest in three years, according to a report by the College of Engineering Pune Technological University (COEP Tech). The reading was higher than the average of 92.6 dB recorded last year and 94.8 dB in 2024.This is the 26th year that a team of volunteers from COEP Tech has monitored sound levels during the procession. The team records readings at 10 prominent chowks along the Laxmi Road route, including Belbaug, Ganpati, Limbraj, Kunte, Umbrya, Gokhale, Shedge, Holkar, Tilak and Khandoji chowks.Decibel readings were taken at four-hour intervals from noon on September 25, the day of the procession, until Saturday morning, September 26. According to COEP Tech data, noise levels at several chowks along the immersion route exceeded permissible limits.Also Read | Amid larger crowds, Pune Ganesh Visarjan stretches beyond 33 hoursThe monitoring exercise has been led over the years by Professor Mahesh Shindikar, head of the Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities at COEP Tech. The exercise records and monitors changes in sound levels during the event.The overall average sound level recorded by the team was 104.5 dB. At midnight on Saturday, the average reading was 112.6 dB, while at 4 am it remained high at 105.1 dB. The highest reading at midnight was 113.9 dB at Kunte chowk.Under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, permissible sound levels during the day are 75 dB in industrial areas, 65 dB in commercial areas, 55 dB in residential areas and 50 dB in silent zones, which are areas within 100 metres of hospitals, educational institutions and courts. At night, the limits are 70 dB, 55 dB, 45 dB and 40 dB, respectively.An earlier analysis by the COEP Tech team had found that noise levels consistently crossed permissible limits during Ganesh Visarjan processions. The average sound level fell sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, when an average of 59.9 dB was recorded.Story continues below this adAlso Read | Ganesh Visarjan in Antarctica: Scientists make snow idol, perform eco-friendly immersionWhile excessive noise remained a concern on the concluding day of the celebrations, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) reported a dip in overall noise levels during this year’s Ganeshotsav compared with last year.Kartikey Langote, sub-regional officer, MPCB, Pune, said the board had monitored noise levels at 200 locations across the city.“The first and immediate observations based on the available data suggest a dip in noise levels by 10 per cent as against last year,” he said.Langote said the final report would be ready within eight to 10 days and would be submitted to the concerned authorities for further action.Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read MoreClick here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories