Mumbai Metro 2A & 7 lines save time, lack last mile connectivity
Mumbai Metro 2A & 7 lines save time, lack last mile connectivity
Mumbai Metro commuters and activists on Thursday pointed out that amidst the Metro 2A and 7 lines running faster and saving time, however,.due to lack of last mile connectivity at some of the destination stations, passengers find themselves stranded.
Commuters allege that despite autorickshaws are available as soon as you climb down from the elevated Metro station, the driver overcharges passengers and even share autorickshaws fix their own rates, passengers adding that BEST service for feeder connectivity is also ‘inadequate’.
Reportedly the transport expert Vivek Pai makes it known that Metro ridership will definitely suffer due to last mile connectivity becoming more expensive than the Metro itself. For example,spending
Rs 20-30 to travel in the Metro for a long distance, after you alight at a station, you end up spending Rs 40-50 for an auto to travel to your final destination from Eksar or Pahadi Eksar stations. There needs to be a continuous flow of share autos at affordable rates, or electric AC Midi buses just below the Metro stations, picking up passengers and offering rides at just Rs 6 for 5 km distance.
As per Metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas they have requested the BEST to introduce more services that can help improve last mile connectivity.
So far, BEST has provided last mile connectivity by linking Metro stations on line 2A and 7 via 25 routes. MMRDA has also asked BEST to connect BKC with Gundavli station of Line 7 on Western Express Highway. Moreover, work is in progress to provide Foot Over Bridge (FOB) connectivity from east side lanes of Western Express Highway to the Metro stations on line 7.
BEST General Manager Lokesh Chandra advocates that there were ten feeder routes near Metro stations, but admitted that at some stations, one had to walk quite a distance or cross the road to catch a bus. One such bus service will start from Gundavli Metro station to BKC for office-goers before the month end.
Activist Mohammed Afzal says that Metro stations like Anand Nagar and Dahisar East witness refusals by auto drivers daily, and commuters are left stranded. “Drivers charge excess fare when a share auto in comparison would have charged half or one third the fare. He has petitioned authorities for share auto stands.
However, A V Shenoy Mumbai Mobility Forum claims that every railway station has a feeder AC bus service. Metro stations should direct commuters as soon as they get down to a bus stop in its premises and have indicators for expected time of arrival of next bus.
Metro station should be similar to SATIS outside railway stations like Thane where all modes of transport are easily accessible. Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union leader Shashank Rao has proposed 62 auto stands at Metro stations along Line 7 and 2A and demanded parking space for autos.
News Input K.V.Raman
