Mumbai Metro 3 sets new record – Over 1.5 lakh commuters ride in a single day
South Mumbai commuters switch to Metro 3
Mumbai’s Metro 3 line set new record on Friday after the full launch of the 33.5-km underground route.
Reportedly,Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) claim 159,105 commuters used the Aqua Line up to 9 pm, slightly higher than Thursday’s 156,456 passengers on the first day of complete operations.
The numbers increased rapidly on Friday morning. By 11 am, more than 55,000 people had travelled, compared to the 1 pm mark on Thursday. The total ridership until
6 pm reached 111,696, up 14 per cent from Thursday’s 97,850 passengers. Notably the Vidhan Bhavan to CSMT stretch was particularly busy, drawing commuters away from other transport options.
The full operation of Metro 3 has impacted the BEST bus services and shared taxis in South Mumbai. Daily bus ridership dropped slightly to just over 2.4 million, down from over 2.5 million last month. Around 60 bus routes run in areas such as Cuffe Parade, Churchgate, Vidhan Bhavan, and Hutatma Chowk. It’s learned that BEST officials are considering adjusting routes, but a reduced bus fleet limits immediate changes.
Taxi unions reported a 20 to 30 per cent decrease in passengers using kaali-peeli taxis. They suggested setting up shared taxi stands near metro stations, with 10-15 vehicles per station, to maintain service for commuters travelling shorter distances in south Mumbai.
News Edit KV Raman
