Mumbai’s Coastal Road: A newly opened stretch of Mumbai’s Coastal Road is catching attention for more than just easing traffic. Drivers cruising along a section of the road are being treated to a musical surprise — the surface plays the tune of ‘Jai Ho’ as vehicles pass over it at a steady speed.
The unique feature recently went viral after a video shared online captured the experience from inside a moving car. The clip, filmed at night, shows the vehicle gliding along a well-lit, smooth carriageway with streetlights on either side. A small idol placed on the dashboard gently sways as the car moves forward.
How the Musical Road Works
As the car exits an underground tunnel and continues on the Coastal Road, a melody begins to play. The sound is not coming from the vehicle’s speakers. Instead, it is generated by specially designed grooves embedded into the road surface. When tyres roll over these grooves at a consistent speed, they produce vibrations that translate into music.
In the video, the driver maintains a speed of around 70 to 80 kmph. As the car aligns perfectly with the marked strip, the Oscar-winning song ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire becomes clearly audible inside the vehicle. The tune sharpens when the speed is steady, offering drivers a brief but distinct musical experience.
According to reports, the musical stretch is approximately 500 metres long and is located on the northbound carriageway from Nariman Point towards Worli. Signboards placed 500 metres, 100 metres and 60 metres ahead of the strip inform motorists in advance, prompting them to maintain the required speed to enjoy the melody.
‘Potholes still run…,’ Social Media slams the development
While many were impressed by the innovation, the development also sparked debate online. Several users praised the creative concept, calling it a refreshing addition to Mumbai’s infrastructure.
However, others questioned the priorities behind such features. A user said, “Can we first have all roads as pothole-free and then add musical aesthetics to it?”
“Focus is only on Coastal Road by @Dev_Fadnavis. What about other Roads of Mumbai that Mumbaikars travel daily? Please come to Mulund, we too have a different type of Musical Roads combined with some dance in 3-wheelers or 4-wheelers, we travel in breaking our backs, zero efforts,” a person said.
Another said, “Musical road exists.
Potholes still run the country.
vibes > infrastructure. Are we winning or just making noise?”
The musical road has certainly struck a chord online, blending innovation with civic conversation. Whether it becomes a model for other projects or remains a novelty on Mumbai’s coastline, it has ensured that drivers now have a soundtrack to part of their commute.