India, July 31 -- Bengaluru's so-called 'silence zones', areas near hospitals, schools, and colleges, are now some of the city's noisiest regions, breaching noise pollution norms at rates even industrial areas are not matching.

As per Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) data for May, RVCE Mysore Road recorded night-time noise levels of 57.8 decibels (dB), exceeding the prescribed limit by a massive 44.5%, The New Indian Express reported.

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (NIMHANS) zone also saw violations, with sound levels 29% higher than permitted. Despite the rules mandating lower decibel levels near sensitive institutions, these areas consistently show elevated readings. From February to April, silence zones li...