ORCHESTRA OR CACOPHONY? DENIZENS DIVIDED ON MUSICAL HORNS
Blaring horns might get replaced by notes of musical instruments as per a new proposal
If the constant honking on Indian roads gives you a headache, this news might be music to your ears! Recently, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said a new idea is being mulled over, wherein sounds of flute, tabla, violin, and other musical instruments would replace the sound of horns in vehicles. And the plan, which aims to slash noise pollution levels, is receiving mixed reactions from citizens.
Some denizens feel that instead of an orchestra, this rule, if made effective, might create a cacophony in the middle of traffic. It can also create confusion as drivers might fail to identify which vehicle is indicating to make way for them. “Horns were actually created for alerting people on a blind turn but we misuse it. The idea might sound all well and exotic now, but eventually it’ll be a headache. It’d be a freak show,” says Vipin Kant, an IT executive from Paschim Vihar.
For some, it’s the pitch of the horn that can make or break this unusual idea. Ashesh Bhatia, an IT professional from Kalkaji Extension, says, “This could go either way. Music, if the combination of instruments is correct, can do wonders. But if not, it could get even more irritating.”
And then there are some who have already picked their future horns if the law gets implemented. “It’s a very strange idea but agar karna padhe toh I would choose a violin for my car because I love its sound,” says Shubhashish Verma, a resident of Greater Kailash 1, who is unable to wrap his head around the proposal and feels it would lead to “gaana kam aur confusion zyada”.