Commuters and campaigners pointed out on Thursday that while the Metro 2A and 7 lines are operating quicker and saving time, travellers are left stranded owing to a lack of last mile connectivity at few of the destination metro stations.
Commuters and campaigners pointed out that while the Metro 2A and 7 lines are operating quicker and saving time, travellers are left stranded owing to a lack of last mile connectivity at some of the destination stations.
While a few stations have autorickshaws accessible as soon as you climb down from the elevated Metro station, the driver overcharges customers and even sharing autorickshaws fix their own prices, passengers complained, adding that BEST service for feeder connectivity is also ‘inadequate’.
Metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas stated that the BEST has been asked to develop new services to assist boost last-mile connectivity. BEST has previously provided last-mile connectivity by connecting Metro stations on lines 2A and 7 via 25 routes. MMRDA has also requested that BEST connect BKC to the Gundavli station on Line 7 of the Western Express Highway. Moreover, work is being done to create Foot Over Bridge (FOB) access from the Western Express Highway’s east side lanes to the Metro stations on line 7.
BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra stated that there are 10 feeder routes near Metro stations, but conceded that at certain stations, one has walk quite a distance or cross the street to catch a bus. He stated that a bus service from Gundavli Metro station to BKC for office-goers will begin before the end of the month.
According to activist Mohammed Afzal, car drivers refuse to stop at Metro stations such as Anand Nagar and Dahisar East on a daily basis, leaving commuters stranded. He has applied to the authorities for shared auto stands.
According to A V Shenoy of the Mumbai Mobility Forum, every railway station has a feeder AC bus service. Shenoy went on to say that the Metro station should be comparable to SATIS outside railway stations such as Thane, where all forms of transportation are conveniently accessible. Shashank Rao, head of the Mumbai Auto rickshaw men’s Union, said he has suggested 62 auto stands at Metro stations along Lines 7 and 2A, as well as parking space for automobiles.
A Metro commuter, Prathamesh Shejwal, claimed he got down at Poisar station but observed no autorickshaws or buses outside and had to walk a short distance before taking an autorickshaw from the main road towards Thakur village.
