In a fascinating development, Nitin Gadkari is considering a law to have tabla, violin, flute, mouth organ as vehicle horns. The Union Transport Minister is apparently among the millions of Indians who get irritated on incessant screeching honks from vehicles. Mr. Gadkari also said that the law will not only be applicable to common vehicles, but also for special vehicles including ambulances, police vans and more.
Ironically, in 2017, the Central Pollution Control Board had banned the use of multi-toned musical vehicle horns in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Thane.
Details
Every day millions of Indians take to their offices and workplaces on their vehicles. Rarely a day goes by when one doesn’t get stuck in a traffic jam with people incessantly honk in their screeching horns. The sound of the honks is not only irritating, but also result in sound pollution.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is thinking of bringing about a new law that is going to change it. Although the roads will not be silent, if Gadkari’s plan succeed, soon you will hear an orchestra of melody. As per Gadkari’s plans, vehicles will be equipped with honks with sounds of Indian musical instruments.
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The Facts of the Matter
In his tenure, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has brought about some pivotal changes in his domain. He implemented FASTag, an electronic toll collection system uniform across toll plazas across India. He also implemented the Toll-Operate-Transfer model wherein the National Highway Authority of India would build the highways themselves, and then auction of stretches to the private players.
“Police Sirens to be Replaced by Akashvani Tune”
And if all goes well, he will be introducing a law, which will have musical instruments as horns in the vehicles. The Union Transport Minister’s statement came after his inauguration of a highway in Nasik. Speaking to the media, Mr. Gadkari said that he is presently studying the sirens used by ambulances and other important vehicles. He said that he is planning to replace the same with a tune that was is played on the All India Radio.
“I want to put an end to these sirens as well. I am studying the sirens (used by) ambulances and police. An artiste composed a tune of Akashvani (All Indian Radio) and it is played early in the morning. I am thinking of using that tune for ambulances so that people find it pleasant,” Mr. Gadkari said.
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“It’s So Irritating, Especially When Ministers Pass By”
He also noted how the sound of the current horns and sirens are not only irritating, but they also end up harming one’s ears. “It is so irritating, especially after ministers pass by, and the sirens are used at full volume. It also harms the ears,” as quoted by the Press Trust of India.
“Horns To be Indian Musical Instruments Like Flute Tabla, Violin…”
Mr. Gadkari further added that he’s taken a keen interest in the study and is planning to implement a law wherein all vehicles will have horns withs sound of Indian instruments. This will include instruments such as flute, tabla, violin, harmonium, etc.
“I am studying this and soon planning to make a law that the horns of all vehicles should be in Indian musical instruments so that it is pleasant to hear. Flute, tabla, violin, mouth organ, harmonium,” he said.
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Central Pollution Board had Banned Such Horns in 2017
The news of a move to curb noise pollution is a welcome one. However, it’s ironic that in 2017, the CPCB (Central Pollution Control board) had banned multi-toned, musical vehicles horns. The notification was sent across major metros in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Thane, Navi Mumbai, etc.
Further, the CPCB also noted that drivers were honking needlessly even in silence zones. It ordered that the drivers should not do so and abide by the law.
