Automotive noise - the Indian scene in 2004

Abstract

Automobiles and two wheelers have been manufactured in India since sixties, but the real thrust in the indigenous effort came in 1990 when the process of liberalization and reforms started earnestly. The story of the automotive noise control is similar. Research and development work in acoustics of ducts and mufflers has been going on at the Indian Institute of Science since late sixties. However, public consciousness of noise pollution in general, and automobile noise in particular, developed during the last decade. This came about primarily because of global competition. National Committee for Noise Pollution Control was set up in 1997 to advise the Central Pollution Control Board, executive wing of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Advice of the committee has resulted in several gazette notifications limiting the pass-by noise of two wheelers, three wheelers, passenger cars, multi-utility vehicles, buses and trucks/lorries. Type testing and the conformance of production testing is carried out by the Automotive Research Association of India, among others. Research and development work is carried out at the Indian Institute of Science, several Indian Institutes of Technology, etc. Several of the major automobile manufactures have their in-house design and development departments. Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India has set up a Facility for Research in Technical Acoustics (FRITA) at I.I.Sc. in order to offer consultancy in noise control as well as on designing for quietness to industry, apart from carrying out post-graduate teaching and research. This keynote or plenary paper gives an overview of the current automotive noise scene in India.