iWorld
Jai Ho on the go as Mumbai unveils melody road
500 metre stretch plays Slumdog hit at 70 to 80 km per hour.
MUMBAI: Your daily commute in Mumbai just found its rhythm. In a first for India, the city has unveiled a 500 metre “melody road” on the northbound carriageway of the Mumbai Coastal Road, engineered to play the Oscar-winning track Jai Ho as vehicles glide over it at a steady 70 to 80 km per hour. The stretch, located between Nariman Point and Worli just after motorists exit the Coastal Road tunnel, turns tyres into instruments and asphalt into a score.
The installation was inaugurated by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who called it a pioneering initiative. “For the first time, we have come up with a melody road. It uses Hungarian technology and is a 500 metre stretch where music can be heard while driving. Based on its success, we will replicate it on other stretches as well,” he said.
The technology relies on precisely cut rumble strips laid along a 500 metre section adjacent to the central divider. When a vehicle drives over the grooves at the designated speed, the vibrations produced by the tyres create musical notes that resemble the rhythm of Jai Ho, the iconic anthem from Slumdog Millionaire. Officials say the tune is audible even inside vehicles with the windows closed.
To ensure motorists are not caught off guard, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has installed warning signboards at 500 m, 100 m and 60 m before the musical stretch, including within the tunnel itself. The idea is simple: maintain a steady speed, avoid abrupt braking and let the road do the singing.
The concept of a melody road dates back to 2007 when Japanese engineer Shizuo Shinoda discovered that grooves cut into pavement could generate musical tones at specific speeds. Since then, similar installations have appeared in Hungary, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Mumbai’s version is only the fifth such installation in the world and the first in India.
The project was conceptualised by former Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale and executed with technical support from Hungarian experts. Commissioned by the BMC, it carries an estimated cost of Rs 6.21 crore. Civic officials say the choice of Jai Ho was deliberate, intended as a tribute that evokes national pride while adding a touch of delight to the drive.
Beyond novelty, authorities insist there is a method behind the melody. A senior BMC official said encouraging drivers to maintain consistent speeds, especially on a high traffic urban expressway, could reduce sudden braking and improve traffic flow. Signage and advance warnings form part of what officials describe as a broader safety integration plan.
The melody stretch sits on the 10.5 km long Mumbai Coastal Road, a flagship infrastructure project featuring multiple lanes and tunnels that has significantly reduced travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs. The addition of a musical interlude adds a moment of levity to what is otherwise a high speed commuter corridor.
Reactions online have been a mix of curiosity and civic pride. A motorist who experienced the stretch, described it as surreal. “I don’t know if this feature has any safety benefits as claimed, but it’s enjoyable to hear a familiar and uplifting tune in the middle of my daily drive,” she said.
If feedback remains positive, experts believe similar melody roads could surface in other Indian cities. For now, Mumbai’s commuters have something few others in the world can claim: a road that quite literally sings back.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
