Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
Vinnakota Vara Prasad vs Union Of India And Others on 10 December, 2025
APHC010472012025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH Bench Sr.No:-19
[3552]
AT AMARAVATI
WP(PIL) NO: 174 of 2025
Vinnakota Vara Prasad ...Petitioner
Vs.
Union of India and others ...Respondents
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Advocate for petitioner : Sri V.N.V.Surya Dattu Advocate for respondents : Learned Government Pleader for Transport, learned Government Pleader for Home, Sri S.V.S.S.Sivaram, learned Standing Counsel for Vijayawada Municipal Corporation.
CORAM : THE CHIEF JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR SRI JUSTICE CHALLA GUNARANJAN DATE : 10th December 2025 PC:
The present petition highlights the indiscriminate use of loud speakers at traffic junctions leading to unbearable levels of high decibel sound and noise pollution.
The traffic police are stated to be resorting to the use of the loud speakers at traffic junctions in the city of Vijayawada.
Learned Government Pleader for Home has filed an affidavit stating that at major junctions like Benz Circle, N.T.R. Circle, Ramesh Hospital, Mahanadu, Ramavarappadu, where the scale of vehicular, pedestrian and school movement is extremely high during peak hours, the traffic police uses 2 limited voice amplification through loud speakers which is necessary to ensure safety and avoid chaos.
The affidavit further states that the loud speakers are not used between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and are also not stationed in designated silence zones. The use is also subjected to supervisory reviews. It is stated that the use of loud speakers will be discontinued after full fledged Intelligence Traffic Management System (I.T.M.S.) is installed, which is currently under consideration. It is stated that the use of loud speakers is necessary and in public interest. It is further stated that earlier, noise monitoring is conducted with a view to keep the sound levels within permissible limits. It is also stated that currently, approximately, 17 junctions are equipped with new I.T.M.S. Considering the fact that the method of user of loud speakers is quite archaic, especially when modern traffic control systems are available, it would be appropriate for the traffic police authorities and the State Government to ensure smooth traffic including the busy intersections as identified hereinabove with I.T.M.S. Although the affidavit states that 17 junctions have been provided with I.T.M.S., the details of the locations at which they have been installed have not been reflected in the said affidavit.
While the use of the loud speakers may be discontinued, as has been stated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., yet, those people who are either residing or working in the close proximity to the aforementioned locations would find it unbearable to suffer to continuous cacophony of sound through the user of the said loud speakers.
We would, therefore, require the official respondents to suggest alternatives which will immediately eliminate the user of loud speakers till such time as the I.T.M.S. are put in place. We would also require an affidavit to be filed by the respondents giving the time lines within which the I.T.M.S. would 3 be installed at least in busy intersections to ensure smooth flow of traffic both regular and pedestrian.
List on 18.03.2026.
DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR, CJ CHALLA GUNARANJAN, J AMD