Mumbai Launches India’s First Musical Road, Plays ‘Jai Ho’ At 70–80 kmph

Mumbai has unveiled India’s first “musical road”, a unique stretch on the city’s iconic Coastal Road where vehicles can actually “hear” music as they drive. The innovative installation, set to be inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, plays the melody of “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire when cars travel over the specially engineered surface at the right speed.

The musical section has been laid on the northbound carriageway from Nariman Point towards Worli, about 500 metres beyond the tunnel, using precisely spaced grooves,also known as rumble strips,cut into the asphalt. As vehicles move over these grooves at around 70–80 km/h, the friction between tyres and road produces sound waves that recreate the famous tune, audible even with car windows closed.

Authorities have installed advance signboards inside the tunnel,at 500 m, 100 m and 60 m,so drivers can adjust their speed and experience the melody clearly. The concept behind musical or “melody” roads originated in Japan in 2007 and has since been tried in countries like South Korea, Hungary, and the UAE, where strategic groove placement on road surfaces creates songs as cars pass over them.

The idea for Mumbai’s musical road was proposed by former MP Rahul Shewale and executed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with support from a Hungarian firm. The route choice and the iconic “Jai Ho” tune were intended both as a tribute to the city’s cultural energy and a fun way to enhance the commuter experience on one of Mumbai’s busiest expressways.

This musical milestone adds a novel cultural element to the Coastal Road,an ambitious urban expressway designed to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the suburbs. With this installation, Mumbai joins a short list of global cities using road engineering to blend practicality with creative engagement