This Wednesday, October 22, the Ombudsman asked Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) to reinforce the assessment and control of environmental noise and to complete all missing strategic noise maps by the end of the first half of 2026.
In a statement, the Ombudsman’s Office states that it sent a letter to the Government following the persistent lack of action by IP in terms of controlling environmental noise in transport infrastructures under its responsibility.
“Infraestruturas de Portugal, SA has not yet prepared or delivered a significant part of the strategic noise maps and action plans relating to the 2021-2026 control cycle, which is thus compromised”, is mentioned in the note.
In the letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, the Deputy Ombudsman requests that clear guidelines be set for the IP Board of Directors in order to complete, by the end of the first half of 2026, all strategic noise maps still missing.
It also requests the evaluation and concrete response to each complaint presentedcarrying out acoustic measurements and implementing mitigation measures whenever necessary.
The Ombudsman’s Office recalls that according to the report “Noise control: Planning, managing and raising awareness – 2025”, recently released by this entity, the company had only completed the mapping of less than 5% of the road sections (16 out of 339) and 20% of the railway sections (13 out of 65) under its responsibility.
For the Ombudsman, the inaction on the part of IP “compromises the survey and evaluation of problems that determine a significant number of complaints, resulting in indifference towards the fundamental rights of citizens, namely health, rest, tranquility and a healthy environment”.
“Concern was also expressed about the fact that the company delayed the resolution of situations of excessive noise until the approval of planning documents that should have already been approved. This attitude transfers the costs of lack of action to citizens, leaving them not only without protection but also without a horizon for an effective response to their legitimate complaints”, is highlighted in the note.