Mumbai’s ‘Jai Ho’ Musical Road Faces Night Barricades After Residents Complain of Noise
Mumbai’s ‘Jai Ho’ Musical Road Faces Night Barricades After Residents Complain of Noise
Mumbai’s much-talked-about “musical road,” introduced as a blend of innovation and entertainment, has now hit a pause button after drawing criticism from the very residents it passes by.
More than a month after its launch, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to barricade the stretch during night hours following repeated complaints from people living in Breach Candy. Residents had been raising concerns that the continuous sound generated by vehicles driving over the road was disturbing their sleep and daily routines, especially late at night.
The issue was formally taken up by the Breach Candy Advanced Locality Management (ALM), which wrote to the Maharashtra government and civic authorities urging immediate intervention. Responding to these concerns, the BMC has now restricted vehicular movement on the musical stretch at night, aiming to restore peace in the neighborhood.
Officials clarified that although decibel checks conducted earlier showed the sound levels were within permissible limits, public sentiment played a key role in the decision. One official noted that “even though the noise was technically acceptable, many residents were unhappy, so we chose to barricade the road and may consider reopening it only on select occasions or weekends.”
The 500-metre experimental stretch, inaugurated on February 11 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, was designed as India’s first musical road. Located on the northbound lane of the coastal road between Nariman Point and Worli, just after the tunnel exit, the road uses specially carved rumble strips. When vehicles pass over these grooves at speeds of 60–80 kmph, vibrations create the melody of “Jai Ho,” the Oscar-winning track from Slumdog Millionaire.
While the concept was celebrated as a showcase of engineering creativity—and similar installations exist in countries like Hungary, South Korea, and the UAE—it did not translate well for nearby residents. According to members of the Breach Candy Residents Forum, the sound echoed across more than 25 buildings, making it difficult for many, particularly senior citizens, to rest.
A representative of the residents shared, “We appreciate the authorities for responding to our concerns. The constant ‘Jai Ho’ sound was playing round the clock for over a month, and its tonal quality made it travel into multiple homes.” Another resident described the decision as a much-needed relief, saying they “deserved a peaceful neighborhood.”
The civic body now plans to keep the stretch closed during sleeping hours, and may limit its use to specific days in the future.
