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Mumbai’s Coastal Road to get country’s first ‘Melody Road’

While this marks a pilot initiative for India, the technology has previously been implemented in countries such as Hungary, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

melody roadThe car convoy of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde passes over the technology-enabled musical rumble strips on the Mumbai Coastal Road during the inauguration of the innovative initiative. (Express Photo by Akash Patil)

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed a special music technology along Mumbai’s Coastal Road, where motorists will hear the song “Jai Ho” upon crossing a speed of 60 kmph. The musical stretch spans 500 metres between Priyadarshini Park and Amarsons Garden.

The ‘Melody Road’ is slated to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on February 11 at 12.30 pm.

Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official privy to the developments said the project was implemented by a team of Hungarian experts. Mumbai is only the fifth city in the world where this technology has been deployed so far.

“These musical tracks have been deployed over a small stretch of 500 metres, towards the north bound exit of the TBM tunnels. These tracks have been marked with musical notes designs in a 500 metre stretch which spans from near Priyadarshini Park, after exiting the coastal road, to Amarsons Garden. If commuters cross the speed of over 60 kmph, the song Jai Ho will be heard in this musical stretch,” said a senior official.

According to officials, rumble strips have been installed along the 500-metre stretch, where the song “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire will be produced by the friction of vehicle wheels as vehicles cross the prescribed speed limit.

To alert motorists, the civic administration has installed signboards announcing the musical route at distances of 500 metres, 100 metres, and 60 metres ahead of the pilot stretch.

While this marks a pilot initiative for India, the technology has previously been implemented in countries such as Hungary, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

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The concept of a musical road was first devised in 2007 in Japan, when Japanese engineer Shizuo Shinoda discovered the sound effect while working on a road with a bulldozer. Following this discovery, the idea of the ‘Melody Road’ was developed.

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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