Public transport in Mumbai
Encyclopedia
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
involves the transport of millions of its citizens by train, road and water. Over 88% of the commuters in Mumbai use public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
(suburban trains or buses). It is the most convenient, efficient and cheap form of transport to a population largely without sufficient income to afford cars. Mumbai has the largest organised bus transport network among major Indian cities. But the train network
Mumbai Suburban Railway
The Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways. The system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any...
is constantly struggling to cope with the growing population. A train compartment is usually filled with over three times the passengers it was meant for at peak hours.
Mumbai's public transport primarily comprises:
- Public bus service (BEST)
- This system is run by a government organization Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and TransportBrihanmumbai Electric Supply and TransportThe BEST ) is Mumbai's public transport service and electricity provider....
, the "B" formerly standing for "Bombay". It has a fleet of red single and double-decker buses. There are air conditioned and low floor buses as well. - New BRTS is planned and work is to begin from January 2009.
- This system is run by a government organization Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
- NMMT-Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport operates its Volvo buses from Navi Mumbai to Bandra,Borivali and Dindoshi.
- Suburban electric trains: local railway lines
- Western Railway, running between ChurchgateChurchgateChurchgate is an area in downtown South Mumbai. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai was one of the gates. The gate was situated near the present day location of...
and VirarVirarVirar is a name of a suburb of Northern Mumbai. Virar is a city and a part of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra....
. There are plans to extend this service up to DahanuDahanuDahanu is a coastal city and a municipal council in Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, India.-The Town:The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word "Dhenu Gram" meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu...
in near future. - Central Railway, running between Chhatrapati Shivaji TerminusChhatrapati Shivaji TerminusThe Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
(Formerly known as Victoria Terminus [V.T.]) and KarjatKarjatKarjat is a city, a Municipal Council, a Tahsil and a sub-district in Raigad district, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:...
/KhopoliKhopoliKhopoli is an industrial town in the Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, at the base of the Sahyadri mountains. Patalganga River which is the tailrace channel of Tata Hydroelectric Power station flows through Khopoli....
and Kasara. - Harbour Line, running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Formerly known as Victoria Terminus [V.T.]) and PanvelPanvelPanvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
/ Andheri. A new line has extended the Harbour Line from Panvel to Karjat. - Harbour Line, running between Vashi and Thane (via Turbhe)
- Western Railway, running between Churchgate
- Public taxi/autorickshaw services:
- Black and yellow metered taxis
- Radio Taxis: Silver Green run by Meru and Yellow Red by Gold cabs and Black by Mega cabs.
- Blue and silver airconditioned metered taxis known as Cool Cabs
- Black and yellow metered Autorickshaws which are not allowed in the Central area (between ColabaColabaColaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
& MahimMahimMahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
in the West and Colaba and SionSion, IndiaSion is a suburb of Mumbai. The Marathi name for Sion is शीव , which means boundary or limit. In the 17th century the village formed the boundary between Mumbai and Salsette Island.- History :...
in the East) of the city.
- Waterway services:
- Ferry services connect VashiVashiVashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
(in Navi MumbaiNavi MumbaiNavi Mumbai is a Planned Satellite City on the west coast of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was developed in 1972 as a twin city of Mumbai, and is the largest planned city on the planet, with under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and a total area of . Navi Mumbai...
) to the Gateway of IndiaGateway of IndiaIts design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles, the arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are in Hindu style. The Gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. The stone was locally obtained, and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.The...
. - Ferry services are available to visit Elephanta CavesElephanta CavesThe Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri in Mumbai Harbour, to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
and to nearby places such as Alibaug, RewasRewasRewas is one of 48 “Minor” ports of Maharashtra located near Karanja creek at mouth of the Patalganga River about 10 km southward of JNPT and 16 km south-east of Mumbai Port. It is controlled by state government through an agency known as “Maharashtra Maritime Board”.-History:Dr. Meka...
and MandwaMandwaMandwa is a village in Satara district, Maharashtra, India....
. - Ferry services is also available in northern Mumbai, across the Manori CreekManori CreekManori Creek is a creek in northern Mumbai , India. It is also known as the Gorai Creek further north. The Dahisar River drains into this creek....
. The barges operate at regular intervals across the shallow creek linking ManoriManoriManori is a neighbourhood located in northern Mumbai, India. It is known for its beach and the Manori Creek. The closest railway station is Malad....
to Malad - Ferry also connects VersovaVersova (Mumbai)Versova is an upmarket neighbourhood in the Andheri area of northern Mumbai. It is located at 19°7'60N 72°47'60E and is known for its beach and the Versova Fort...
and Madh IslandMadh Islandthumb|Madh fortMadh Island is a group of several quaint fishing villages and farmlands in northern Mumbai.-Description:Madh Island barely escapes being called a peninsula since only a small creek, bounded by mangroves, cuts it off from the mainland near Aksa...
- Ferry services connect Vashi
Taxi and auto fare calculator
For calculating Taxi fares and Auto fares in Mumbai, one can use http://www.taxiautofare.com as the free service. We can enter in the start and end location of the travel and get an estimated fare. The service gives you a google map of the route. It also has the updated taxi fare cards and auto fare cards for use. The service is also available on mobile.The history of Mumbai's public transport
Further information: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and TransportBrihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
The BEST ) is Mumbai's public transport service and electricity provider....
See BEST Bus
BEST Bus
The transportation wing of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking operates a large number of bus lines in the Mumbai metropolitan area. These buses are called BEST or B.E ST bus . BEST bus serves the entire Mumbai City. It also has operations outside city limits into neighboring...
Before 1920
The Bombay Tramway Company Limited was formally set up in 1873. After a contractContract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
was entered into between the Bombay Tramway Company and the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
, the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
enacted the Bombay Tramways Act, 1874, under which the Company was licensed to run a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way service in the city. The tram-cars were of two kinds—those drawn by one horse and those drawn by two. In 1905, a newly formed concern, The Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company Limited, bought the Bombay Tramway Company and the first electrically operated tram-car appeared on Bombay's roads in 1907. The passing years aggravated the problem of rush-hour traffic and to ease the situation, double decker trams were introduced in September, 1920.
1920–1940
Bombay saw its first bus run on 15 July 1926 between Afghan Church and Crawford MarketCrawford Market
Crawford Market is one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The Market was later named after Mahatma Jotirao Phule after a long struggle by the President of Mahatma Phule Smarak Samiti, Mukundraoji Bhujbal Patil...
. The people of Bombay received the bus with enthusiasm, but it took quite some time before this means of conveyance really established itself. For several years, it was looked upon as transport for the upper middle class. Those were the days when the tram was the poor man's transport; it carried one all the way from Sassoon Dock to Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
for a mere anna
Indian anna
An Anna was a currency unit formerly used in India, equal to 1/16 rupee. It was subdivided into 4 Paise or 12 Pies . The term belonged to the Muslim monetary system...
and a half, that was nine paise. The bus fare for the same journey was four annas, that is 25 paise.
In response to the pleas made by the Government and the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the Company extended its services to the northern part of the city in 1934. Double deck buses were introduced in 1937 in order to cope better with the growing traffic. The first Limited Bus service in Bombay, and probably the first in the country as well, started running in 1940 between Colaba and Mahim.
Post 1940
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Mahanagar Palika is the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai and is India's richest municipal organisation. Its annual budget is even more than that of some of the small states of India. It is also known as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai or the Brihanmumbai...
acquired on 7 August 1947, the assets of the combined Undertaking, namely the operation of tramways and distribution of electricity in the city of Bombay as a going concern. By mutual agreement, the Corporation also took over the operation of the bus services, which was run by the B.E.S. & T. Company Ltd.
Thus, the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Company was municipalised and came to be known as Bombay Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking.
When the corporation took over the Company in 1947, there were 242 buses in operation on 23 routes and these buses carried 238,000 passengers per day. At present, there are 4,680 buses carrying 450,000 passengers daily on 400+ routes. With the change in the name of the city from Bombay to Mumbai, the organisation is now known as The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking.
Some interesting facts of present-day BEST Bus
BEST Bus
The transportation wing of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking operates a large number of bus lines in the Mumbai metropolitan area. These buses are called BEST or B.E ST bus . BEST bus serves the entire Mumbai City. It also has operations outside city limits into neighboring...
- BEST has introduced semi deluxe and Air-conditioned services on certain routes.
- From 19 November 2004, Route Special 8 plying from Churchgate to World Trade Centre started accepting cashless smart cards for Automatic Fare Collection in BEST buses.
- BEST currently has 1500+ environment friendly CNG (compressed natural gas)Compressed natural gasCompressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
buses on its fleet and plans to increase the number of buses. - On August 18, 2005, BEST introduced the first lot of disabled-friendly buses(five buses with special wheel chair-accessible low floors) into its service.
- Due to the 7/11 bombings, BEST installed an audio-visual surveillance system on each of its buses to monitor suspicious behaviour aboard its vehicles.
- Almost all buses have two LCD TV's per bus. BEST Buses are most maintained buses.
Railway network
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, it was founded in 1867. It is owned by Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
and is operated by Western Railways and Central Railways. With a length of 303 km, It has highest passenger density in the world, 6.3 million people daily. Which is more than half of Indian Railways daily carrying capacity utilized by Mumbai. It has three lines: the Western Line, the Central Line, and the Harbour Line.
These suburban trains are popularly known as Locals and they run from 4 AM till 1 AM. Mumbai suburban services have various such designations (not all of them official, but in wide use). A 'fast' train or 'fast local' is essentially one that is fast (runs express, skipping stops) until a certain station, and from that station onwards runs like a local, e.g., the Virar Fast runs express to Borivli, and then from there on is a local. The Karjat Fast is an express until Kalyan. The Ambarnath
Ambarnath
Ambarnath is a city and a municipal council in Thane district in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Overview:The name Ambarnath literally means Lord of the sky. Ambarnath is the site of a very old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, dating back, to 10th century...
Fast Local goes CST
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
- Dadar - Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
and thereafter stops at all stations on its route. The Borivli Fast Local used to run (1980s) from Jogeshwari to Mumbai Central
Mumbai Central
Mumbai Central , previously known as Bombay Central, is a major intercity railway station and a commuter station in Mumbai. It was designed by the british architect Claude Batley. It serves as the terminal for several long distance trains operated by Western Railway. The station is located in south...
non-stop.
The term 'superfast local' is sometimes used too, e.g., for trains that skip stations to reach Virar early in the down direction so they are available earlier to carry more passengers in the up direction later. On WR (Western Railway) lines, the term 'fast' train is often applied to one that runs as an express until Bandra or Andheri. A 'double-fast' is one that runs as an express for an even longer stretch compared to the 'fast' services.
On CR (Central Railway) lines, the term 'fast' train is often applied to any train that runs as an express to Kalyan, or until its terminus. There used to be a Kalyan Fast that ran non-stop from Ghatkopar to Bombay VT (now CST). The term 'semi-fast' is sometimes applied to trains that run express until Thane. The term 'bada-fast' (Hindi 'bada'= big) was used for services running express between Borivli - Bandra - Marine Lines, and is sometimes synonymous with 'double-fast'. The term 'triple-fast' has been reported (from a long time back) for express services between Dahisar and Marine Lines.
In 1992, Mumbai's WR and CR introduced 'Ladies Special' trains. A 'Complete Ladies Special' train has all its coaches reserved for women passengers. A 'Semi-Ladies Special' is a train with a few (e.g., 3) coaches reserved for women. These designations can be combined with 'fast', 'slow', etc., so you have terms such as 'Slow Complete Ladies Special', 'Semi-Fast Semi-Ladies', etc.
Metro
Mumbai currently has an extensive commuter rail system (the Mumbai Suburban Railway). However, it is not built to rapid transitRapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
specifications.
In May 2003, the original Mumbai rapid-transit plan was updated to include an elevated 10-km LRT
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system, to be built between Andheri and Ghatkopar
Ghatkopar
Ghatkopar is a suburban neighbourhood of eastern Mumbai. It is also a railway station serviced by Central Railway line of the Mumbai suburban railway.-History:...
via Asalpha, Marol
Marol
Marol is a part of the bigger suburb of Andheri in Mumbai. Marol consists of the area Marol village, Marol Naka, Marol Depot, Marol Maroshi Bus Station, Military Road, Marol Pipeline, Vijay Nagar, Bhavani Nagar, parts of JB Nagar, and parts of Marol MIDC. Its proximity to the international...
, Chakala
Chakala
Chakala ) is a neighbourhood of Mumbai. It was a former station on the Salsette-Trombay Railway. It was dismantled after the rail line closed down in 1934. It is in the Andheri region of Mumbai....
and Saki Naka
Saki Naka
Sakinaka is a suburb in Mumbai. Earlier, it was a primarily industrial area of Mumbai, but due to its improved connectivity and prime location, it is now a prime business district with various call centres and commercial offices....
.
In January 2004, a master transit plan, including a 146 kilometer metro, was unveiled by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority , commonly abbreviated as MMRDA, is a body of the Government of Maharashtra that is responsible for the infrastructure development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region...
(MMRDA). The plan integrated a 146 kilometer-long metro system, of which 32 km is underground.
In June 2004, government approval was given for a 13-station elevated light rail line between Ghatkopar and Versova. The foundation stone-laying ceremony was held on 21 June 2006. The line was initially expected to open in 2008.
However, work on the 11-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, which comes under Phase-I, has begun on February 8, 2008 itself. Construction of the route is expected to be completed in three years.
Monorail
The Mumbai Monorail is a under construction monorailMonorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
system for the city of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. It is being contracted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority , commonly abbreviated as MMRDA, is a body of the Government of Maharashtra that is responsible for the infrastructure development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region...
and it will be the first monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
There are four lines proposed. The first two are 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) long. Out of the two, construction on the first line has begun.
- A line running from Malabar HillMalabar HillMalabar Hill, a hillock in southern Mumbai , India is an extremely upmarket residential area, most known for the Walkeshwar Temple which houses the Banganga Tank. Situated at a height of 50 metres Malabar Hill, a hillock in southern Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India is an extremely upmarket...
to the Bandra-Kurla complexBandra-Kurla complexThe Bandra Kurla Complex is a planned commercial complex in the suburbs of the Indian city of Mumbai . According to MMRDA, the complex is the first of a series of "growth centres" created to "arrest further concentration" of offices and commercial activities in South Mumbai...
via the Haji Ali DargahHaji Ali DargahThe Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and dargah located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the Southern part of Mumbai. Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai....
, Jacob Circle, Wadala Road, Sion Hospital and DharaviDharaviDharavi is a slum and administrative ward, over parts of Sion, Bandra, Kurla and Kalina suburbs of Mumbai, India. It is sandwiched between Mahim in the west and Sion in the east, and spread over an area of 175 hectares, or...
. This is planned to open by 2011. - A line from ThaneThaneThane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
to BhiwandiBhiwandiBhiwandi is a city, in the district of Thane, in the western state of Maharashtra, in India, located 20 km to the north-east of Mumbai and 15 km to the north-east of Thane city...
via Kalyan.
Two lines 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long are to be constructed after the first two open.
- ChemburChemburChembur is a suburban neighbourhood in eastern Mumbai, India. It is 22 km from downtown Mumbai and 20 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport...
to Jacob Circle via MahulMahulMahul is a neighbourhood of Mumbai in the Trombay area....
. This route is planned to open by Dec 2010. (May get extended to VashiVashiVashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
, Navi MumbaiNavi MumbaiNavi Mumbai is a Planned Satellite City on the west coast of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was developed in 1972 as a twin city of Mumbai, and is the largest planned city on the planet, with under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and a total area of . Navi Mumbai...
.) - Lokhandwala ComplexLokhandwala ComplexLokhandwala Complex Andheri, also known as Lokhandwala, is a large residential and commercial area in Oshiwara village of Andheri, Mumbai, India. It is approximately 8 km from Andheri station. The name Lokhandwala comes from the name of the developer with the construction firm of Lokhandwala...
to KanjurmargKanjurmargKanjur Marg is a suburb in east central Mumbai. Kanjurmarg railway station is the main access point for IIT Bombay, KV POWAI, NITIE, Hiranandani Gardens, and other locations in Powai...
via OshiwaraOshiwaraOshiwara is a neighbourhood in northern Mumbai, India very near to Lokhandwala Complex. The name of this neighbourhood was derived from the Oshiwara River. Located between the western sides of Goregaon and Jogeshwari, it has a large number of industrial estates. A railway station was scheduled to...
.
Additionally previously planned Mumbai Metro corridors are also being examined to be made as monorail corridors instead of Metro Rail by MMRDA due to dense and congested areas these corridors pass through, and monorail technology is thought to be more flexible to make its way in congested and dense areas. The corridors are:
- Hutatma ChowkHutatma ChowkHutatma Chowk is the official name of a square in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.The square hosts Flora Fountain and was known by that name until 1960. It was officially renamed in 1960 in memory of the members of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, who lost their lives when police fired upon their...
– GhatkoparGhatkoparGhatkopar is a suburban neighbourhood of eastern Mumbai. It is also a railway station serviced by Central Railway line of the Mumbai suburban railway.-History:...
- 21.8 km - GhatkoparGhatkoparGhatkopar is a suburban neighbourhood of eastern Mumbai. It is also a railway station serviced by Central Railway line of the Mumbai suburban railway.-History:...
– Mulund - 12.4 km
Taxis
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
taxis in Mumbai, are integral part of the city's heritage and have been depicted in numerous Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
movies. These metered taxis ply throughout Mumbai and have 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, Taxis and autorickshaws ply. A mechanical meter decides the fare and is proportional to the distance traveled.
Number of taxis (cabs): About 58,000 In Greater Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and 98,566 In Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
MMR
Mumbai Metropolitan Region
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region /Mumbai Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area consisting of the metropolis of Mumbai and its satellite towns. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of seven municipal corporations and fifteen smaller municipal councils...
.
Only 20,000 old black and yellow taxis on Greater Mumbai road and 35,000 New taxis like Maruti Alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
, WagonR, Omni, Tata Indica
Tata Indica
The Tata Indica is a hatchback automobile range manufactured by Tata Motors of India. It is the first passenger car from Tata Motors and is also considered India's first indigenously developed passenger car. , more than 910,000 Indicas were produced. The annual sales of Indica has been as high as ...
, Santro etc. Recently Radio cab services have been introduced by some private companies. These taxis are brand new air-conditioned cars fitted with GPS and electronic metres. Fare is same as that of Cool Cabs. Presently operated by the following companies: Meru (Green Silver), Gold cabs (Yellow Red), Easy Cabs, Star Taxis (White & Purple), Forsche Taxi and Mega cabs (Black). However these taxis need to be booked in advance by calling their callcentre number. It's EASY to call & get the AC cabs like Meru in just 5-30 minutes depending on the place & time. If you've arrived at the domestic airport (CSIA-GVK airport), just before you exit the Arrival terminal, there are free phones on right side from where if you call, there's a Cab in 5 minutes flat! Even if the yellow-black cabs are priced about 50% lower, it's safer to take the AC cabs till you get accustomed. YellowBlack Cab drivers take people for a ride only from railway stations & Airports but otherwise in the city, these are the best way to travel with luggage.
Recently the police revealed that the law requires the driver of an unengaged taxi to take you to wherever you want to go, regardless of distance or time, in case 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) currently hired.
If the driver does not comply, one simply needs to call the police on 1800-22-0110, a toll free number and mention the taxi's license number and the driver's name. The act of calling the police on your cell phone usually makes the driver comply with your request to be taken to your destination.
Mumbai Transport commissioner Dilip Jadhav recently announced direct email id for complaints could be about anything: refusal to ply short distance, excess fare charged/tampered meters, fake tariff cards, misconduct by drivers or any other complaint.
Other methods of complaining against the auto rickshaws and taxis is available on the Mumbai RTO website, here.
Some taxis now use an electronic meter, and soon are taxis are expected to use new electronic meters, which directly display the actual fare, not requiring a conversion, as required in the current mechanical taxi meters. The conversion of the mechanical meter reading to the actual fare, payable in INR is published on the Mumbai RTO's website here. The fare is applicable for yellow/black non air-conditioned taxis only. It is important to understand that the meter reading actually denotes the miles travelled, with the initial minimum set to 01.00. Thereafter the meter increases by 00.10 for each 1/10th mile travelled.
The basis for the fare calculation is :
- Minimum fare : Rs. 16.00 for the first 1.6 km (1 mile).
- Fare for each subsequent kilometer : Rs. 10.00
The fare is payable at a multiple of 1.25 (i.e. Rs. 125 for every Rs. 100 calcuated for the meter reading) between midnight and 5 am.
Auto rickshaws
There are total 246,458 auto rickshaws in Mumbai MMR as of 2008, Auto Rickshaws are three-wheeler scooters, having a wheel in the front and 2 wheels in the rear, which can accommodate three people in the rear section, apart from the driver in the front section. Apart from Buses, Trains and Taxis, Auto rickshaws play an important role of public transport in Mumbai. As per the ruling of the Bombay High Court having 2002 as a deadline, all auto rickshaws use CNG as the fuel.Auto rickshaws are not permitted to enter Old Mumbai. The southmost 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 of Mumbai. They have been allowed to ply 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 board/flag down/catch another rickshaw. In the western suburbs they are allowed to ply between Bandra and Bhayandar only.
Recently the police revealed that the law requires the driver of an unengaged taxi to take you to wherever you want to go, regardless of distance or time, in case 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) currently hired.
If the driver does not comply, one simply needs to call the police on 1800-22-0110, a toll free number and mention the cab's license number and the driver's name. The act of calling the police on your cell phone usually makes the driver comply with your request to be taken to your destination.
Other methods of complaining against the auto rickshaws and taxis is available on the Mumbai RTO website, here.
A mechanical meter decides the fare and is proportional to distance traveled. The fare is available on the Mumbai RTO's webpage here in pdf format.
Terror attacks
There have been fourteen terrorTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
attacks on Mumbai's public transportation, including two serial blasts, in 2003 and 2006, that killed approximately 257 people, and the 2008 attacks, during which more than 50 were killed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
.
- 6 December 2002 - Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 26 December 2002 Mumbai bus bombingAt 18:45 IST on Friday, 6 December 2002, a bomb placed under a seat of an empty B.E.S.T. bus exploded near the busy Ghatkopar station. The bomb was placed in the rear of an empty bus parked near the station and killed two people and injured 28. There were no passengers in the bus at that time and...
- 27 January 2003 - Bomb goes off on a bicycle in Vile Parle killing 127 January 2003 Mumbai BombingOn 27 January 2003, a bomb placed on a bicycle exploded near the busy Vile Parle railway station in Mumbai, India. The bomb killed one person and injured 28. The blast occurred when Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of India at the time, was to visit the city.This was the second in a series...
- 14 March 2003 - Bomb goes off in a train in Mulund killing 1013 March 2003 Mumbai train bombingAt 21:45 hrs on 13 March 2003 a bomb exploded as a train pulled into Mulund Station. The bomb was placed in the first class ladies compartment and killed 10 people and injured 70. Among the ten killed were four women who were in the first class compartment and six men who were in the adjoining...
- 28 July 2003 - Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 428 July 2003 Mumbai bus bombingAt 21:15 hrs on 28 July 2003 a bomb placed under a seat of a B.E.S.T. bus exploded on the busy Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Ghatkopar. The bomb was placed in the rear of the bus and killed 4 people and injured 32. A man who was riding a motorcycle behind the bus and a woman who was in a rikshaw...
- 25 August 2003 - Two bombs go off in cars near the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar killing 5025 August 2003 Mumbai bombingsThe 25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings were twin car bombings in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 54, and injured 244 people. One of the bomb explosions took place at the Gateway of India, which is a major tourist attraction. The other bomb went off in a jewellery market Zaveri Bazaar near the...
- 11 July 2006 - Series of seven bombs go off in trains killing 20711 July 2006 Mumbai train bombingsThe 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings were a series of seven bomb blasts that took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the nation's financial capital. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains...
- 26 November 2008- 2008 Mumbai attacks2008 Mumbai attacksThe 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
: Ten terrorists from Pakistan target the Chhatrapati Shivaji TerminusChhatrapati Shivaji TerminusThe Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
, the Taj Mahal Palace & TowerTaj Mahal Palace & TowerThe Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is a five-star hotel located in the Colaba region of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, next to the Gateway of India. Part of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, this building is considered the flagship property of the group and contains 565 rooms...
and Nariman HouseNariman HouseThe Nariman House , renamed as Chabad House , is a five-story landmark in the Colaba area in southern Mumbai, India. The building was home to a Chabad house, a Jewish outreach center run by Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, and they have owned the Building since around 2006. The center had an...
, killing nearly 150 people in the deadliest terror attack of 2008 worldwide.