Mumbai has introduced a distinctive feature to its infrastructure network with the launch of India’s first “music road” on a 500-metre stretch of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road.
Located on the northbound lane for motorists travelling from Nariman Point to Worli, the specially engineered section produces the tune of ‘Jai Ho’ as vehicles pass over it at a designated speed. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inaugurated the stretch on Wednesday in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who drove along the route to experience the effect.
How It Works
The installation uses a sequence of rumble strips or grooves carved into the asphalt at calculated intervals and depths. When vehicles move across the stretch at speeds between 60 and 80 kmph, the interaction between tyres and grooves generates vibrations. These vibrations create sound waves that replicate ‘Jai Ho’, composed by AR Rahman for the film Slumdog Millionaire. Officials stated that this 500-metre section marks the first phase of the initiative.
Global Context
According to the BMC, this is the first such road in India and the fifth globally. Similar projects have previously been implemented in Hungary, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
The concept was proposed by former Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale and executed as part of the broader Mumbai Coastal Road project.
Future Plans
Chief Minister Fadnavis said the installation has been introduced on a trial basis and may be extended further along the coastal road. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde said the government would examine the possibility of implementing similar experiments on other highways, including the Samruddhi Expressway.
For now, the stretch adds an interactive element to the coastal commute, blending engineering with a musical experience for drivers.
Source: India Today
