Mumbai has unveiled India’s first-ever “melody road”, a specially engineered stretch designed to play the iconic tune ‘Jai Ho’ as vehicles drive over it at a designated speed. The installation, located along the city’s Coastal Road, was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of other dignitaries, marking a unique fusion of infrastructure innovation and cultural celebration.
The concept involves precisely carved grooves on the road surface that produce musical vibrations when vehicles travel across them at a specific speed. If driven correctly, commuters can hear the melody of ‘Jai Ho’, the Academy Award-winning song from the film Slumdog Millionaire. Officials said the feature is intended to enhance the driving experience while also encouraging motorists to maintain optimal speeds.
The project was conceptualised by former Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale and executed with technical support from Hungarian experts, who have prior experience developing similar musical roads in other countries. Authorities stated that careful engineering assessments were conducted to ensure the grooves do not compromise road safety or vehicle stability.
Also Read: Dehradun Man Gunned Down in Broad Daylight Near Tibetan Market
Beyond its novelty, the Melody Road is being positioned as a pilot initiative aimed at combining traffic management with public engagement. By requiring vehicles to travel at a designated speed to hear the tune clearly, planners believe the installation could subtly promote safer driving behaviour along the stretch.
Mumbai’s debut of the melody road places India among a select group of countries experimenting with musical highways as both a tourism attraction and a road-safety innovation. Officials indicated that the performance and public response to the Coastal Road installation will determine whether similar projects are introduced in other parts of the state or country in the future.
Also Read: Gaganyaan Is India’s Historic Inflection Point, Says Astronaut Shukla