Gadkari Proposes Law To Replace Vehicle Horns With Indian Classical Instrument Sounds

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced plans to introduce a law that would require all vehicle horns to produce sounds inspired by Indian musical instruments. The goal: to make road noise more pleasant and culturally rooted.

Speaking at the 78th Foundation Day celebration of Navbharat Times on Monday, Gadkari said,“I am planning to make a law that horns of all vehicles should be in Indian musical instruments so that it is pleasant to hear—flute, tabla, violin, harmonium.”

The minister also addressed broader concerns related to pollution and sustainability, noting that the transport sector contributes to 40% of the country’s air pollution. He emphasized the government's ongoing push for green mobility, including vehicles powered by methanol, ethanol, and other biofuels.

Highlighting India’s growth in the global automotive industry, Gadkari shared that the automobile sector has grown from ?14 trillion in 2014 to ?22 trillion today. He also celebrated India's recent achievement of overtaking Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market, after the US and China.

On a lighter note, Gadkari acknowledged the challenges faced by the media industry, noting that running a newspaper is no easy feat, especially given the dependence on advertising revenue for operational costs.