Mumbai now has a ‘singing road’ and is causing both amusement and annoyance. A 500-metre music section has been created on the northern Coastal Road, between Nariman Point and Worli, just after vehicles exit the Coastal Road tunnel.
On a designated stretch of coastal road, vehicles traveling at 70-80 km/h over specially installed grooves produce friction-generated sound waves that play the melody of the iconic Jai Ho song from Slumdog Millionaire clearly audible inside the vehicle.
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The first phase of this initiative includes a 500 meter stretch with plans to further expand the music trail concept.
Here’s what residents are saying
Residents of the upscale Breach Candy neighborhood say the music route has become more of a constant nuisance than a novelty. Kavita Chawla, a resident near Tata Gardens, told The Independent: “The sound is really disturbing,” noting that what was supposed to be a temporary feature had turned into what she said was a “menace” to everyday life.
Namrata Sanghai, another resident of Vaibhav Apartments, who lives on the 22nd floor, told The Independent: “My son’s 12th standard exams are going on and he sits with the window closed all day, which is actually not very healthy, but we really have no choice. It’s very, very very uncomfortable and very, very disturbing.”
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A user on X wrote: “Mumbai Coastal Road stretch plays ‘Jai Ho’ as cars pass rumble lanes – but residents near Breach Candy say it’s become a daily riot from 6am to midnight. Complaints sent to authorities for action.”
Earlier, stand-up comedian Azeem Banatwalla shared a satirical video on Instagram where he joked that drivers obeying the speed limit might hear a tune reminiscent of AR Rahman’s Grammy-winning song Jai Ho.
He joked that the roads didn’t even require real music because “every time he hit a pothole, his lower back was channeling Atif Aslam’s pained vocals”.
Emphasizing his bewilderment at the state of the city, he joked that the only “Mayer” Mumbai had been excited about in six years was John Mayer.
Watch the video:
How does the music journey work?
Grooves, known as rumble strips, have been cut along the central bulkhead so that the tires generate audible vibrations to the tune of Jai Ho when vehicles travel at speeds of 70-80 km/h.
Consul General of Hungary Ferenc Jári told ANI: “…This concept of melodic road is quite rare in the world. There are only a few countries that have melodic roads. But the cheapest way to set melodic road, the cheapest technology comes from Hungary… An Indian businessman visited Hungary and by the way drove his melodic road. Then he approached me and asked me about the Hungarian team and we started preparing this project. We can have such a project. project… BMC offered coastal roads and the song was selected, Jai Ho and we look forward to the response of cars from Mumbai…”
Residents urged the BMC to end the music road
The residents’ forum, which represents more than 650 families, has raised concerns about the music section, saying the tune is played daily from 6am to midnight, adding to the already high level of traffic noise, according to reports.
They have formally demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) discontinue the music journey, though the civic body is yet to respond.
My son’s 12th standard exams are going on.. it’s very very annoying and very very worrying.
According to residents, the amplified music “enters homes as a constant, muffled but disturbing background noise,” forcing people to keep their windows closed. It is said that seniors in particular experienced serious discomfort.
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The forum’s letter said: “Residents are increasingly tired of being repeatedly raised about serious civic concerns only to find attention focused on unavoidable and inconsequential interventions,” stressing that the deafening noise from speeding supercars on the coast road remains unaddressed. They called on the civic administration to immediately review and end the music initiative, calling it unnecessary and disruptive to daily life in the neighborhood.
