Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced a unique and culturally inspired proposal — a new law mandating that vehicle horns be replaced with sounds from Indian musical instruments. Speaking at the 78th Foundation Year Celebration of Navbharat Times, Gadkari shared his vision of transforming India’s urban soundscape.

“I am 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, harmonium,” said the senior BJP leader. He noted that constant honking creates unnecessary noise pollution, and the new initiative would blend tradition with innovation to improve quality of life.

The minister also highlighted the environmental cost of the transport sector, stating that it contributes to 40 per cent of air pollution in India. To combat this, the Modi government has been aggressively promoting green and bio-fuel-based vehicles, including those running on ethanol, methanol, and other eco-friendly fuels.

Gadkari emphasized India's rapid growth in the global automobile sector. “In 2014, the Indian automobile sector was valued at ₹14 lakh crore. Today, it has grown to ₹22 lakh crore,” he said. India, he added, has overtaken Japan to become the third-largest automobile market in the world after the United States and China.

In a lighter vein, Gadkari acknowledged the challenges of running a traditional media house, saying, “Running a newspaper is not easy — the owner has to manage finances largely through advertisements to cover costs.”