NEW DELHI: Indian roads could soon get less noisy. The government is planning to reduce the noise level of horns on vehicles to under 100 decibels, a reduction of about 10% from the existing maximum permissible limit.As per Central Motor Vehicle Rules , the noise range for horns is currently fixed between 93 decibels (dB) and 112 dB. "We are looking to bring down this range to 88dB at the lower end with the maximum limit at just under 100dB," Abhay Damle , joint secretary in the ministry of road transport and highways, told TOI.Damle said the step is being contemplated as noise pollution has become an irritant across Indian cities, and is being blamed for rising cases of hearing loss and damage to eardrums.The ministry has had several rounds of discussions with automobile companies and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.TOI has also run "no-honking" campaigns highlighting the ill-effects of horns.While the issue of recurring and loud horns is a challenge in itself, another problem is that of blaring pressure horns and multitone horns that many people install on their vehicles as an after-market fitment. These have decibel levels which are much higher than even the upper limit stipulated in the motor vehicle rules.Rohit Baluja, president of the Institute of Road Traffic Education, said while there is a legislation against pressure horns and unnecessary honking, there is hardly any enforcement of the same.Such is the perceived utility of horns on Indian roads that many companies go in for special testing and equipment for their vehicles that are sold here. A top official with a major luxury carmaker had once conceded that horns fitted on their vehicles in India are of a "special category" as they used many degrees more than those in Europe and other parts of the world.The issue of loud horns has also been discussed, and criticised, by the National Green Tribunal and even some courts. But enforcement remains weak.