Different types of public transport in Mumbai
Transport in Mumbai
is achieved by both public and private transport. As of 2016, 52% of commuters use public transport.
[1]
Mumbai has the largest organized bus transport network among major Indian cities.
Mumbai's public transport consists primarily of
rapid transit
on exclusive suburban railway lines augmented by
commuter rail
on main lines serving outlying suburbs, the bus services of the three municipalities making up the metropolitan area, public
taxis
and
auto rickshaws
, as well as ferry services. A
metro
and a
monorail
system were inaugurated in 2014. A commercial
seaplane
service was also introduced in 2014.
[2]
Road
[
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Sea-links
[
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]
As of 2024, Mumbai currently has 3 major operational or under construction
sea-links
:
The
Bandra?Worli Sea Link
bridge is one of the longest bridges in the country, opened in 2009. It connects the suburbs of
Bandra
and
Worli
, and carries around 32,000 vehicles daily as of 2018.
[3]
The
Trans Harbour Link
is the longest bridge in India. It was opened on 12 January 2024, when Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
inaugurated the bridge. It connects Mumbai with
Navi Mumbai
and is 21.8 kilometers in length. The bridge runs between the localities of
Sewri
in South Mumbai to
Ulwe
of Navi Mumbai.
[4]
[5]
The
Coastal Road
(officially the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Motorway) is an under construction 8-lane, 29.2-km long expressway that will run along Mumbai's western coastline. It will connect the locality of
Marine Lines
in the south to Mumbai and
Kandivali
in the North. It is projected to be used by 130,000 vehicles daily and to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs from 2 hours to 40 minutes. Its first phase was inaugurated on 11 March 2024.
[6]
Buses
[
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- Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
(BEST) has a fleet of single,
double decker buses
and air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo CNG mini buses. BEST runs their buses all over Mumbai and its surrounding area.
- Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport
(NMMT) operates air-conditioned Volvo buses from
Navi Mumbai
to Bandra, Dadar, Mantralaya & Borivali and non A/C buses from Navi Mumbai to Mulund, Kurla, Dadar, Andheri, Dindoshi & Mantralaya.
- Thane Municipal Transport
(TMT) operates buses from
Thane
to Mulund, Borivali, Mira Road, BKC & Andheri.
- Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport
(MBMT) operates buses from
Mira-Bhayandar
to Andheri, Thane and Borivali.
Taxis
[
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Taxis arrived in 1911 to complement horse cars. Black and yellow
Fiat
taxis are an integral part of the city's heritage and have been depicted in numerous
Bollywood
movies. Metered taxis ply throughout Mumbai and have a monopoly from Bandra to
Churchgate
on the Western line and Sion to
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus
on the Central line. Beyond Sion and Bandra
auto rickshaws
are not allowed and one has to hire a taxi. However, between Sion to Thane and Bandra to
Bhayandar
, both Taxis and autorickshaws are available to transport passengers.
- Silver-Green taxis run by Meru and Yellow-Red by Gold cabs and Black by Mega Cabs
- Blue and silver air-conditioned metered taxis known as "Cool Cabs"
- Some private taxi operators provide yellow number plate cars for transportation
Mumbai is served by two intra-city highways: Old Mumbai-Pune Highway and Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway.
Number of taxis
[
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There are around 58,000 taxis in Greater
Mumbai
and 98,566 in
Mumbai
MMR
as of 2010.
[7]
Classic black and yellow taxi numbers on Greater Mumbai roads had fallen to 20,000 by 2010,
[8]
as 35,000 new taxis such as
Maruti
Alto
,
Wagon R
and
Omni
,
Tata Indica
and
Hyundai Santro
had entered service. Recently
State Transport Authority of Maharashtra State
has also introduced the on-call facility to book these taxis, one can call 022-61234567 to book black and yellow (Non-AC) and CoolCabs (AC) taxis. Radio cab services have been introduced by some private companies. However, these taxis need to be booked in advance by calling their call center number. Nowadays, cab services from Ola, Uber and Rapido are also very popular among commuters and travellers.
Taxi Regulations
[
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Law requires the driver of an unengaged taxi to take a passenger wherever they want to go, regardless of distance or time, if the fare meter of the unengaged rickshaw/taxi is in a 'For Hire' mode. The modes were denoted by older mechanical meters in this manner: a) upright ? for hire b) half mast ? not doing business c) facing down-currently hired.
Authorities encourage passengers to make complaints, for refusal to convey, excess fare, tampered meters, fake tariff cards, misconduct by drivers by direct email
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
as well as by a website.
[13]
Rickshaws
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Auto rickshaws
play an important role in public transport in Mumbai. There are 246,458 black and yellow metered auto rickshaws, often simply called
autos
, in the Mumbai MMR as of 2008.
[7]
Since 2002, all auto rickshaws have been required to use
CNG
as fuel.
[14]
However, not all rickshaws comply. In some areas if a CNG filling facility is not available, the fuel is either
petrol
or
LPG
.
Auto rickshaws are not permitted to enter
Old Bombay
. The southernmost points accessible to them are Bandra Fire Station in Western Mumbai and Sion Bus Depot in Central Mumbai. Auto rickshaws registered in Mumbai are not allowed travel beyond the municipal limits. They have been allowed to travel between Sion to Mulund in the Central Suburbs and up to Mankhurd on the Harbour line. People who wish to travel beyond Mumbai to suburbs like Vashi, Airoli have to catch a suburban rickshaw. In the western suburbs, they are allowed to travel between Bandra and Bhayandar only.
A mechanical meter decides the fare which is proportional to distance traveled. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) updated the auto-rickshaw fares and declared a hike recently that is applied from 1 March 2021.
[15]
The regulation for auto rickshaws is similar to taxis, and methods of complaining against the auto rickshaws and taxis are available on the Mumbai RTO website.
[16]
Survey
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In 2021, UK-based car-sharing company Hiyacar has announced in a survey that Mumbai is the most stressful city in the world for driving.
[17]
Public transportation options are one of the main factors which were observed for the survey.
[18]
Rail
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Mumbai Suburban Railway
[
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]
The
Mumbai Suburban Railway
is the oldest
commuter rail
in Asia, founded in 1853.
[19]
It is owned by
Indian Railways
and operated by its
Western Railways
and
Central Railways
divisions. Most economical transport subsidized by the government of India via Railway ministry. With a length of 430 km, it has highest passenger density in the world, 7.5 million people daily, more than half of daily capacity of Indian Railways.
[20]
It has four radial lines:
Mumbai railways offer
first class commuter transport
. First class fares are approximately 10 times the second class fare
[21]
and tend to be less crowded in the non-rush hour period. First class compartments also have slightly better seats than second class. While less crowded during non-peak hours, the first class compartments are rather more crowded during the peak hour time, as there is a large supply and demand gap. It is notoriously hard to get into the first class compartment as the coach is overcrowded with people hanging out of the doors.
[
citation needed
]
Since 2017, Mumbai Suburban Rail became the first in India to operate Air-Conditioned rakes in its Western and Central line. These rakes are equipped with automatic doors and are vestibuled in a 12-coach configuration with coaches 1 to 6 vestibuled, motor connection between coaches 6 and 7 and coaches 7 to 12 again vestibuled.
There are also
women-only cars
(termed 'ladies'),
[21]
and since 1992, 'Ladies Special' trains with all coaches reserved for women passengers.
[22]
Metro
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]
In January 2004, a master transit plan was unveiled by the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA). The plan integrated a 146 kilometer-long
metro
system, of which 32 km would be underground.
In June 2004, government approval was given for a 12-station elevated line between
Ghatkopar
and
Versova
. In June 2006, the first phase of the Mumbai Metro project was inaugurated. Construction work began in February 2008.
[23]
[24]
[25]
A successful trial run was conducted in May 2013, and the system's first line entered operation in June 2014,
[26]
[27]
[28]
although some aspects of the project were afflicted by delays and cost issues.
[24]
[29]
[30]
[31]
The
Mumbai Metro
opened on 8 June 2014. On 2 April 2022, Metro line 2A and 7 were inaugurated, these two lines have a combined length of 19,25 km and will reduce the traffic congestion in North Mumbai.
Many more lines are under-construction or planned having a total length of 345 km (215 mi).
Monorail
[
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The Mumbai Monorail is a
monorail
system for the city of
Mumbai
. Construction began in January 2009 and the first operational line was inaugurated on 1 February 2014.
[32]
[33]
It is being contracted by the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
and is the first
monorail
in India.
[34]
Four lines were proposed. The first two are 25 kilometres (16 mi) long. Out of the two,
Line 1
was opened to the public in 2014.
Two lines 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long were to be constructed after the first two have opened.
Additionally, previously planned Mumbai Metro corridors are also being examined to be made as monorail corridors instead of the metro by MMRDA due to the dense and congested areas these corridors pass through. The corridors are:
However the mumbai monorail failed due to its low passenger attention.
Ferry
[
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]
- from Vashi (in Navi Mumbai) to the Gateway of India
- to Elephanta Caves and to nearby places such as Alibaug, Rewas, and Mandwa
- in northern Mumbai across the Manori Creek. The barges operate at regular intervals across the shallow creek linking Manori to Malad
- from Versova to Madh Island
The
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
(formerly Sahar International Airport) is the main aviation hub in the city and the second busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic.
[37]
It handled 30.74 million passengers and 656,369 tonnes of cargo during FY 2011?12.
[
citation needed
]
The new integrated terminal T2 was inaugurated on 10 January 2014
[38]
and opened for international operations on 12 February 2014, increasing the capacity of the airport to 40 million passengers annually.
[39]
A dedicated six lane, elevated road connecting the new terminal with the main arterial Western Express Highway was also opened to the public the same day.
[40]
The proposed
Navi Mumbai International Airport
to be built in the Kopra-Panvel area has been sanctioned by the Indian Government and will help relieve the increasing traffic burden on the existing airport.
The
Juhu Aerodrome
was India's first airport, and now hosts a flying club and a heliport.
[41]
See also
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References
[
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]
- ^
Rao, KV Krishna.
"TOWARDS BETTER ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY IN INDIAN CITIES"
(PDF)
.
- ^
"Mumbai's first Commercial Seaplane Service to takeoff today"
.
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. Retrieved
24 February
2014
.
- ^
Sharma, R (30 April 2018).
"Bandra-Worli sea link: Traffic falls 13% in 2017-18"
.
Financial Express
.
Archived
from the original on 5 May 2023
. Retrieved
7 May
2024
.
- ^
"Speed limit 100 km/hr, no bikes and autos: All about India's longest sea bridge"
.
India Today
. 11 January 2024.
- ^
"Atal Setu news: PM Modi to inaugurate Mumbai Trans Harbour Link today"
.
mint
. 12 January 2024.
- ^
"Maharashtra CM inaugurates Mumbai Coastal Road Project phase one between Worli & Marine Lines"
.
The Economic Times
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. Retrieved
7 May
2024
.
- ^
a
b
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. Mesn.org
. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
- ^
Somit Sen, TNN, 2 Aug 2010, 01.33am IST (2 August 2010).
"Only 20K black & yellow taxis left in Mumbai ? Mumbai ? City"
.
The Times of India
. Archived from
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. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
{{
cite news
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) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
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)
- ^
Somit Sen, TNN, 11 May 2010, 01.33am IST (11 May 2010).
"Rude cabbies, auto drivers? Send an email ? Mumbai ? City"
.
The Times of India
. Archived from
the original
on 11 August 2011
. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
{{
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}}
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) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
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)
- ^
CJ: Golden Reejsinghani.
"Policing errant auto-rickshaw drivers in Mumbai"
. Merinews.com
. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
- ^
"Being taken for a ride in Mumbai? Complain online"
. Whereincity.com. 17 February 2007
. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
- ^
"You can complain against cabbies online ? Mumbai ? DNA"
.
Daily News and Analysis
. 16 February 2007
. Retrieved
31 August
2010
.
- ^
Auto Taxi complaints
on
Mumbai Traffic Police
website
- ^
ruling of the Bombay High Court
reported in
Times of India
- ^
"Revised Auto Rickshaw Tariff Card for Mumbai Region"
.
kuchbhi.com
. Kuch Bhi. March 2021
. Retrieved
1 March
2021
.
- ^
"Mumbai TRO website"
.
- ^
Lulia, Ajay (24 September 2021).
"Driving in Mumbai Traffic? Welcome to the World's Most Stressful City of 2021"
.
kuchbhi.com
. Retrieved
24 September
2021
.
- ^
"The world's most stressful cities to drive in"
.
hiyacar.co.uk
. Hiyacar
. Retrieved
30 July
2021
.
- ^
"Happy Birthday Indian Railways! First passenger train started 165 years ago; unknown facts about the network"
. 16 April 2018.
- ^
"CAPA India Travel Retail Survey: Can Mumbai Airport replicate Delhi's impressive retail growth?"
.
CAPA - Centre for Aviation
.
- ^
a
b
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6 ed, 2012, published by
Lonely Planet
, p68
- ^
"World's First Ladies Special Suburban Train Completes 25 Years"
. news18.com
. Retrieved
7 May
2017
.
- ^
"Mumbai monorail to be ready by Dec, Metro by March"
.
Business Standard
. 12 June 2012
. Retrieved
7 July
2013
.
- ^
a
b
"Mumbai's first metro may chug in 2013"
. DNA India. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^
"Metro, Monorail projects could miss deadline"
.
The Indian Express
. 14 August 2011
. Retrieved
21 September
2011
.
- ^
"Mumbai: The connected city"
. Livemint. 20 June 2013
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Mumbai Metro trial run successful"
.
The Times of India
. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^
"Mumbai Metro: trial run with train draped in flowers"
. NDTV.com. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^
"MMTPL to CM: Metro II will take more time, money"
. Mid-Day.com. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^
"Indian Bank rejigs Mumbai Metro loan account"
.
The Financial Express
. 18 May 2012
. Retrieved
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2012
.
- ^
"Metro likely to miss its August deadline"
. DNA India. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^
R.Thendral, Inian (1 February 2014).
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.
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
Gupta, Saurabh (30 January 2014).
"Mumbai monorail to be inaugurated on Saturday"
.
NDTV
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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.
The Times of India
. 27 September 2007. Archived from
the original
on 11 August 2011
. Retrieved
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2009
.
- ^
https://mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/thane-bhiwandi-kalyan-monorail
[
dead link
]
- ^
Manthan K Mehta, TNN, 13 Jan 2010, 03.43am IST (13 January 2010).
"Monorail test run on R-Day will be for only 500-metre ? Mumbai ? City"
.
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. Archived from
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. Retrieved
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.
{{
cite news
}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link
) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link
)
- ^
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(PDF)
. Archived from
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(PDF)
on 3 March 2016
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{{
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)
- ^
Phadnis, Aneesh (10 January 2014).
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.
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- ^
"With maiden Air India flight, T2 opens to public"
. 13 February 2014.
- ^
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.
- ^
Mumbai#Air
External links
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