Mumbai's 'Jai Ho' Musical Road Sparks Noise Fury Among Affluent Residents
A newly opened stretch of Mumbai's Coastal Road has become the centre of a heated controversy after it was designed to play the Oscar-winning song "Jai Ho" from the film Slumdog Millionaire when vehicles travel at the mandated speed. This innovative feature, implemented by authorities to help control speeding and enhance road safety, has instead triggered widespread discontent among local residents.
Residents Voice Strong Opposition to Constant Humming
In the affluent neighbourhood of Breach Candy, residents are fuming over what they describe as a "menace" disrupting their daily lives. The constant humming sound produced by the musical road has led to at least 650 families lodging formal complaints with municipal authorities, citing significant noise nuisance. Many residents argue that the feature is a complete waste of taxpayers' money, failing to justify its purpose while causing ongoing disturbance.
Dr Bhushan Gagrani, the commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, responded to the grievances by stating that officials do not personally find the sound disturbing. However, he acknowledged the complaints and confirmed that the corporation will thoroughly examine the issues raised by the community. This situation highlights the challenges of balancing innovative traffic management solutions with quality of life concerns in urban areas.
The musical road concept, intended to encourage drivers to adhere to speed limits by creating a melodic experience, has backfired in this instance, turning into a source of irritation rather than appreciation. As Mumbai continues to develop its infrastructure, this incident underscores the importance of community consultation and environmental impact assessments in public projects.
