Mumbai's metro odyssey: Transforming urban transit

The bustling metropolis of Mumbai's public transport system is often referred to as its lifeline. The public transport system - consisting of a well-coordinated network of buses, suburban trains, rickshaws and kaali peelis (taxi cabs) - have been the backbone of the city's transportation with millions of passengers being ferried every day.

While the city roads, to an extent, still face the brunt of congestion, the suburban rail network has been significantly alleviating the pressure. Apart from the rail network, the expanding network of Mumbai Metro is poised to further transform the daily commutes for many. It will enhance overall accessibility within the city.

The introduction of Mumbai's metro system has been nothing short of a trailblazer for a city long plagued by its success. As one of the most populous cities in the world, Mumbai urgently needed a sustainable solution to its transportation woes.

Mumbai Metro's Line 1 - connecting Ghatkopar to Versova - began in June 2014 and nearly seven years later, in 2023, with the introduction of two more lines and others being in the pipeline, it's expected that the metro will offer respite from the relentless gridlock.

Commuters, who use the metro services daily, that mid-day.com spoke to echoed similar views about it shaving off their travel time when questioned effects of the metro on their commute.

Karan Jotwani, aged 48, who runs a printing press in Marol, said that earlier he used to take a car to work but has now switched to taking the metro. "Since Line 2A and 7 began, the metro has become more crowded. There is no sitting space."

Similarly, Rahul Suthar (26), who commutes using the suburban railway network and the metro said that the latter offers a better travelling experience, mainly due to better crowd management and having better signages than the railway stations.

Elric, who travels to Andheri from Borivali (east), however, has lamented that crowding, especially during peak hours is as bad as local trains and that finding a space to stand correctly gets difficult too.

When quizzed about the affordability, the commuters said it was cost-effective. Jotwani said, "Rates of Mumbai Metro are decent. The prices for Line 2A and 7 are cheaper than the Line 1."

However, some commuters have expressed that there are a few inconveniences like the absence of an application that offers to track the trains as the Railway did with the Yatri app. Rahul, who works as a software developer, said, "I once had to go to Mira Road from Lower Malad, however, it took me a while to get to the station closest to my destination. Moreover, we do not have an application to book tickets online for other operational networks like we do for Metro Line 1."

Meanwhile, Elric noted that the crowd control could be bettered, especially during deboarding and emplaning. "Additionally, I think the service hours and number of services to places like Dahisar should be increased. There are many people, like me, who finish work later in the night, like 10 pm. It'd be a boon for such persons."

The question, though, still loomed large. Has the metro been effective in alleviating the traffic congestion?

While Jotwani noted that the traffic in the areas near Link Road has slightly reduced after the metro became operational, he however observed that the situation is not the same along the Western Express Highway.

Savio P, though, voiced that the metro has not significantly impacted the traffic congestion. "I don't think the traffic situation has improved. While some commuters might have moved to using the metro, they seem to have been replaced by newer vehicle owners," he elaborated.

Metro network connectivity

As of January 2023, the operational lines, including the Blue Line (Line 1), Yellow Line (Line 2A), and Red Line (Line 7), have had an impact on commuting in the city.

These operational segments span 46.4 kilometres, effectively connecting major hubs within the metropolitan region.

With the upcoming construction of various under-construction metro lines, such as the Yellow Line (Line 2B), Aqua Line (Line 3), and Purple Line (Line 6), the reach and capacity of the Mumbai Metro are set to expand significantly. The Mumbai Metro project, a three-phase initiative scheduled for completion in October 2026, network expansion is expected to connect all parts of Mumbai, its suburbs, and the metropolitan region. In addition to the operational and under-construction lines, there are several planned metro projects, such as Line 5, Line 8, Line 13, and Line 14.

Commuters noted that the expansion of the network will be a "game-changer" in transport and offer additional connectivity of the western and the central suburbs, which presently are connected at very few places.

Jotwani said that the metro work should be sped up and once it is done, it will be a real game changer and that people will choose to use the metro once they are accessible.

What do metro officials have to say?

An official from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said that the primary goal in planning for metro projects was to provide a fast, equitable and comfortable public transport system catering to the accessibility and mobility needs of the people of Mumbai and its suburbs.

"The MRTS network is planned in such a way to provide seamless north-south and east-west connectivity to the city and suburbs in conjunction with the existing suburban rail and road network," the official said.

"The objectives of the metro expansion were to induce balanced development in MMR, lesser commute time, comfortable and safe commute, lesser crowds in the suburban rail network, improved connectivity to different parts of MMR and to generate greater employment opportunities," they added.

Officials said the development and execution of Mumbai's metro was underpinned by dynamic planning and close monitoring. They further said that the construction activities are prioritised effectively and before commencing the building, a comprehensive checklist is employed to remove constraints that might hinder progress.

Furthermore, coordination with local authorities plays a pivotal role, especially concerning approvals for Traffic Management Plans, Utilities Diversion Plans, and the relocation of infringing inventories, said the official.

Value Engineering Services are deployed whenever necessary, enhancing the efficiency of civil works carried out by the MMRDA's internal resources, often supported by loans from domestic financial institutions for funding system works.

When quizzed about safety measures undertaken, the official said they adhere to stringent safety norms, conduct safety audits, and the evaluation of safety scores as per contract terms to ensure that standards are consistently met. Work permits are issued only after thorough verification of all relevant documents, and sites are secured to prevent unauthorized access.

Specialised training programs are provided to staff, workers, and engineers to equip them for their roles in maintaining safety. Regular inspections of construction equipment and the use of a tag system contribute to the overall safety and reliability of the metro system, safeguarding both passengers and workers alike, the official added.

While responding to a query on integration with other public transport (PT) modes, the official added, "seamless integration of Metro stations with these existing PT modes have been planned under the Multi-Modal Integration Project which includes restructuring/ reconfiguration of Right of Way (ROW) for footpaths widening for pedestrian movements, shifting/re-routing of ground and underground utilities & street lights for making footpaths barrier-free for safe pedestrian access, shifting of bus stops and bringing it closer to station within reach of 50m from the entry/exit staircases."

Additionally, the MMRDA has been constructing Foot-over-bridge (FOB) for direct connectivity and providing dedicated pick and drop-off bays for buses, private vehicles, etc. The project also includes the provision of street furniture such as railings, bollards for controlled crossings, dustbins, benches, and infrastructure for Public Bike Sharing. These infrastructure upgrades are implemented within a 250-meter radius of each station, with feeders extending up to a 1.5-kilometer radius, creating a well-integrated and accessible public transportation network.

"Line 2 and 7 have revolutionised Mumbai's transportation system, providing its first metro network. This network is not only convenient, affordable, and sustainable, but it has become a preferred mode of travel for both the common people and the film stars. With a steady 5% growth in ridership every month, we have witnessed over 5 crores of people benefitting from these lines. To further enhance the convenience for Mumbaikars, we are committed to taking all necessary steps to provide last mile connectivity," said Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, when asked about the ridership and response to the metro services.

Activists differ

Transport activist AV Shenoy, when asked about whether the planning of the metro aligns with the broader goal of the city's urban development, opined that although the metro will provide east-west connectivity to some towns in MMR, there is no clear plan about how it will aide the towns and whether these links will help in reduction in traffic congestion.

"There is no clear plan in the public domain about seamless integration with other systems like suburban railways and BEST," Shenoy voiced when asked if the metro has been seamlessly integrated with other public transport systems.

Meanwhile, Jagdeep Desai, Architect Academician, Founder Trustee and Chairperson of Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs, noted that "Unfortunately, the planning of the metro is too late and too disjointed. Instead of having close coordination with all transport authorities and civic administration for actual planning and connections with so-called first and last mile connectivity, the MMRDA is acting independently and in isolation." Desai added that metro planning is "all ad hoc".

"The ground reality is very clear. The roads have been narrowed to allow for the columns and stations, etc. which is resulting in more congestion than before. The increasing traffic will have less road space than before. Proven by the Versova Andheri Ghatkopar metro which was proclaimed to reduce traffic on Andheri Kurla Road. But it has deteriorated to mind-boggling depths. All signs indicate the new metro will have similar repercussions," Desai noted when asked about the effect of the metro on traffic congestion and pollution.

Shenoy, echoing similar views, said, "The experience of Metro 2A and 7 has not shown any perceptible reduction in congestion on roads below or in suburban trains. Also, the trains are running much below the designed capacity as per figures published for last 7 months. Metro 1 which is about 9 km carries about 4 lakh passengers per day but Metro 2A and 7 which are about 35 km together carry only 2.3 lakh passengers per day. The present fares for Metros are very high compared to Suburban railways (2nd class) and BEST to wean away passengers from these modes."