It was a life-changing experience for Naigaon resident Kisabai Sakre, who had never set foot in an A/C train until now. The feisty 80-yr-old says she may "look old but is still very active"
Until Sunday Kisabai Sakre, had never set foot in an AC train or any air-conditioned mode of transport. With the Mumbai Metro getting inaugurated yesterday, her wish was fulfilled.
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(Clockwise from top left) Naigaon resident Kisabai Sakre travelled for the first time in an air-conditioned mode of transport. After managing to buy the first ever ticket for the Monorail, Sunil Khade repeated the feat for the Metro as well. Manipur’s Laxmi Chonghtham had come to visit a friend and decided to take a ride. German tourist Marcel Schoch did so as well
Sakre, a feisty 80-year-old woman, came all the way from Naigaon to take a ride on the much-awaited Metro. “I have never travelled in an AC train. This is the first time I am doing it,” said a beaming Sakre. “I may look old, but I’m still very active and can travel easily. It is good that Mumbai Metro has started,” she added.
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Meanwhile, Sunil Khade became the first person to buy a ticket for the Metro. The Nallasopara resident had reached Versova station to get the ticket at 11.45 pm on Saturday itself. This, however, is not the first time Khade has staked claim to such glory. Khade was the first person to get a ticket to the Monorail as well, and on the behest of his children, who pushed him to repeat his feat, he landed up at Versova Metro station late on Saturday night.
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“I left home at 11 pm and reached Versova at 11.45 pm. When I told authorities there that I was the first person to buy a Monorail ticket and wanted to do it here as well, they obliged,” he recalled.
Everybody’s welcome
It wasn’t only Mumbaikars - people from as far as Manipur and Germany experienced the city’s first-ever Metro rail. Among them was Marcel Schoch, a 22-year-old German tourist.
“We had heard that Mumbai’s first Metro was starting, so we got excited and decided to take a ride. It feels great to witness such a lively response to the service,” said Schoch.
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Laxmi Chonghtham (25), had come all the way from Manipur to visit her friends in Mumbai. Speaking to mid-day, she said, “It was an amazing experience for me, as the atmosphere was very energetic and it was fun to be a part of this.”
Some, like Anirudha Namble (25), drove down from Pune. “I came all the way from Pune to enjoy the ride. I was really excited to travel in Mumbai’s first Metro. Normally, public transport is crowded, but travelling in the AC in, especially in this scorching summer, will be a different experience.”
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