Single-ticket transport grid planned in Greater Mumbai

Metro rails, suburban routes to be main transport modes while monorail and BEST buses to be feeder transport

The Maharashtra government plans to set up a transport grid in Greater Mumbai with a single ticket. The proposed 108-km Metro corridor to be completed in 2019 and the existing suburban railway will play a role of two main transport modes, while the monorail and the BrihanMumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST)-run bus services will act as feeder transport systems.

At present, more than 7.5 million commuters travel in suburban railway, while around 4.8 million use BEST buses in Greater Mumbai.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told Business Standard: “The transport grid is expected to be developed on global lines. The government will introduce a single-ticket for all the multiple transport modes. The government has already appointed a consultant in this regard.”

Already the 11.4-km Mumbai Metro One corridor is currently in operation on Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route with a daily commuter capacity of 250,000. Further, the government recently laid the foundation stone for Dahisar East to Andheri East and Dahisar to DN Nagar Metro routes with a cost of Rs 12,618 crore. The construction is expected to begin by March next year.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will construct a  Dahisar West to DN Nagar Metro line in the western suburbs. The state undertaking Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) finance the construction of the 18.5-km Dahisar-DN Nagar Metro. The DMRC will call for bids and execute it on a cash-contract basis. Further, MMRDA has appointed DMRC as an interim consultant in another Metro project — the 16.5-km Andheri East to Dahisar East line. MMRDA is in advanced talks with the Asian Development Bank for the proposed Metro lines.

On the monorail project, Fadnavis said the government in future would undertake it as feeder transport, which will be connected to the Metro or the BEST network. “Currently, the monorail launched by the previous government was a standalone project, which is neither connected to Metro lines nor to BEST bus routes. So in my view it is just a show case project."

The 8.8-km first-phase Chembur to Wadala route was inaugurated in February 2014 while the second phase of 11.2-km between Wadala and Jacob Circle route is expected to be operational by mid 2016.

MMRDA had planned the 135 km monorail network comprising Thane to Bhiwandi, Malabar Hill to Bandra Kurla, Lokhandwala Complex to Kanjurmarg, and Chembur to Govandi.