MMRDA plans to have check-in counters at stations on the BKC-Airport corridor to ensure a hassle-free journey for passengers
MMRDA plans to have check-in counters at stations on the BKC-Airport corridor to ensure a hassle-free journey for passengers
AIR travellers boarding the proposed metro between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and the international airport at Sahar will have a hassle- and luggage-free journey.
Pursuant to its quest of making the Mumbai Metro meet international standards, the MMRDA has decided to have check-in counters at metro stations on the line so that flyers can hand over their baggage for scanning and for being taken to their aircraft as they travel.
The check-in counters will be set up on two stations on the line, which is an extension of the Colaba-Bandra corridor, and will benefit passengers travelling to the airport from south and central Mumbai.
A technical feasibility study is being conducted and a tender for the construction of the line will be issued by the MMRDA in a few months.
"We are planning and are really looking forward to including the facility of checking in luggage at metro stations itself as it would considerably reduce travelling hassle for air passengers," confirmed MMRDA's Additional Metropolitan Commissioner SVR Srinivas.
A senior official from the authority said, on condition of anonymity, that the check-in counter clause could also be included in the tender itself.
Delhi-inspired
The idea of having such a facility on the Mumbai Metro struck MMRDA officials after studying the Airport Express metro line in New Delhi.
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Luggage check-in is already operational on the line, which runs between New Delhi metro station and Dwarka Sector 21 and links with the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The luggage checked in by passengers at the counters is tagged by airline staff and then transported to the airport using the metro. Keeping the security aspect in mind, the baggage is scanned before being loaded onto the trains.
"There are around 24 counters at metro stations in New Delhi and negotiations with Air India are at an advanced stage. Talks are also on with other carriers," said a spokesperson.
Airport to airport
The state government, MMRDA and CIDCO are also working on a plan to connect the existing airports to the proposed international airport in Navi Mumbai.
Officials said plans are afoot to extend the BKC-Airport line to the Eastern Express Highway to take passengers to the proposed Navi Mumbai airport.
According to CIDCO's master plan, the Mankhurd-Nerul-Vashi-Panvel metro corridor will also link to the airport.
"The extension of the Colaba-BKC line will help commuters coming from central and south Mumbai as well," said MMRDA spokesperson and Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar.
Cost factor
The Colaba-Bandra line was supposed to be completely underground initially but the Rs 12,000-crore outlay made the MMRDA rethink the plan. The line will now be underground only till Mahalaxmi.
The decision to extend it to the international airport was taken later. "The estimated cost for the 30-km Colaba-BKC-International Airport line is around Rs 15,000 crore. It will be underground between BKC and the airport as well," said an MMRDA official.
WHY BKC?
The BKC-International Airport metro line is a high-priority project because BKC is considered the new business hub of the city. It has the offices of the top business firms in the country and nearly 30,000 people go there to work every day.
"The number of people coming to BKC from abroad is also high and they have to negotiate through heavy traffic to get there after landing at the airport. The metro line between BKC and the international airport will not only save their time and money but also make their journey safe and hassle free," said MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawatkar.
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