An experiment to make Cubbon Park vehicle-free on second Saturdays and Sundays has proven to be a success with the first study on pollution levels in the city’s prime lung space showing that air quality has improved manifold during those days.

The study conducted by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, on request from the park authorities, has showed that Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) level at the park reduced by 55 per cent on the vehicle-free weekends. The Ambient Air Pollution Study was undertaken on March 12, 13 and 14 and was followed up with another one on May 4 and 5.

“While the RSPM level was 59 g/m³ (microgram per cubic metre) on March 12-13 weekend, it was 92 g/m³ on March 14, a weekday, indicating the presence of vehicular air pollutants,” said S. Shantappa, Member Secretary, KSPCB.

Rain, Namma Metro help

The second leg of the study was done on busy weekdays of May 4 and 5 at Cubbon Park, when the RSPM levels showed a decrease (71 g/m³). It was a marked 23 per cent lesser compared to March data, according to the report.

KSPCB officials attributed this to the rain and commissioning of the underground stretch of the East-West corridor of Namma Metro, which had brought down the number of vehicles plying in the vicinity. “The rain was a natural purification reducing air pollution. With the commissioning of metro, many people working in offices in the area have been taking the train, resulting in a drop of about 50 per cent in vehicle population. Between March and May, there has been an average 7 per cent reduction in air pollution,” explained Mr. Shantappa.

Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia levels were all well within the national standards.

Noise levels up

Noise levels though have remained on the higher side, probably because of collection of large number of people in the park.

“On weekends, there is an increase of 66 percent in crowds, probably because easier commute by metro has brought many people to the park. So the noise level is marginally higher,” said MahanteshMurgod, Deputy Director, Cubbon Park.

This was the first time that such a study has been done in Cubbon Park’s 145-year-old history. “It’s an important step, as vehicle population has increased several fold in the last few years. Cubbon Park is the only lung space that allows vehicles to pass through its green environs,” said Mr. Murgod.