Mumbai Unveils India’s First Melody Road on Coastal Road
'Jai Ho' tune plays as vehicles drive over engineered grooves at 70-80 km/h
- Mumbai inaugurates India’s first melody road between Nariman Point and Worli
- 500-metre stretch uses Hungarian technology to play ‘Jai Ho’ at 70-80 km/h
- Only fifth such installation in the world; concept originated in Japan in 2007
- Project cost Rs 6.21 crore, conceptualised by former MP Rahul Shewale
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 12th Feb: Mumbai has made history with the inauguration of India’s first-ever melody road — a stretch of roadway engineered to play the iconic ‘Jai Ho’ tune as vehicles drive over it at the right speed.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled the installation on the city’s Coastal Road on Wednesday, describing it as a milestone in urban infrastructure that blends engineering with cultural expression.
What Is a Melody Road?
The musical stretch sits on the northbound carriageway between Nariman Point and Worli, just after vehicles exit the Coastal Road tunnel. Precisely cut grooves — similar to rumble strips — span 500 metres along the central divider. When a vehicle rolls over them at 70-80 km/h, the tyre vibrations produce the rhythm of ‘Jai Ho’ from the film Slumdog Millionaire. The tune is audible even with windows rolled up.
Why It Matters
Mumbai’s stretch is only the fifth of its kind in the world and the first in India. The concept was originally discovered in Japan in 2007, when engineer Shizuo Shinoda found that road grooves produced musical tones at specific speeds. Hungary, South Korea and the UAE have since built similar stretches.
“For the first time, we have come up with a melody road. It uses Hungarian technology and is a 500-metre stretch where music can be heard while driving. Based on its success, we will replicate it on other stretches as well,” CM Fadnavis said at the inauguration.
Safety First
The BMC has taken care to ensure the novelty does not become a distraction. Warning signboards have been installed at 500 m, 100 m and 60 m before the musical stretch — including inside the tunnel — so drivers can gradually adjust their speed. Officials say maintaining a consistent speed through the stretch could also reduce sudden braking and improve traffic flow on this busy urban expressway.
The Story Behind It
The project was conceptualised by former Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale and executed with technical support from Hungarian experts. The BMC commissioned the installation at an estimated cost of Rs 6.21 crore. The choice of ‘Jai Ho’ was deliberate — officials say the tune was selected as a patriotic tribute, aimed at lifting the spirits of daily commuters.
Commuter Reactions
Early responses from motorists have been enthusiastic. “I don’t know if this feature has any safety benefits as claimed, but it’s enjoyable to hear a familiar and uplifting tune in the middle of my daily drive,” said Nivedita Gupta, a regular Coastal Road user.
Social media reactions have ranged from excitement over the technological novelty to curiosity about the precise speed needed to hear the tune clearly.
What’s Next
The Mumbai Coastal Road already stands as one of the city’s most transformative infrastructure projects, spanning 10.5 km with multiple lanes and tunnels, cutting travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs. The melody road adds a touch of joy to an otherwise functional corridor.
If public feedback holds positive, experts say this could pave the way for similar installations in other Indian cities.
