Mumbai's Public Transport Day wins support, but BKC commuters seek better last-mile connectivity

A public parking facility in BKC remains packed on Friday evening despite the launch of Public Transport Day initiative. Pic/Satej Shinde

Mumbai's first weekly 'Public Transport Day' in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) received a cautiously positive response on Friday, with office-goers, property owners and transport experts welcoming the initiative but warning that its long-term success will depend on stronger last-mile connectivity, more frequent public transport services and stricter regulation of autos and taxis.

While many commuters supported efforts to reduce congestion and pollution, several said reaching offices from Metro stations and railway stations remains a challenge due to inadequate bus frequency and difficulty finding autos and taxis.

Day 1: What people said

The positives
. Reduced dependence on private vehicles
. Encouragement for public transport use
. Potential reduction in congestion
. Environmental benefits
. Strong support from businesses and institutions

The concerns
. Poor last-mile connectivity
. Inadequate BEST bus frequency
. Difficulty getting autos and taxis
. Lack of clarity on implementation
. Questions over exemptions and enforcement

Commutersspeak

Ratnakar Sawant, daily commuter
"It is good to see efforts being made to reduce traffic congestion, but I don't think it can succeed unless we have a good frequency of public transport. Many commuters using Metro still struggle to find taxis and auto-rickshaws."

Employee at an MNC, BKC
"It's a task getting into a BEST bus during the peak hours. The frequency of the buses should be increased so the commuters reach railway stations quickly."

Expertspeak

Jagdeep Desai
Architect, academician and founder-chairman, Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai
"The basic question is how the ‘Public Transport Day' will actually be implemented."

Desai raised several questions:
. Where will private vehicles be stopped?
. Where will vehicles be parked?
. Will diplomats, hotel guests and corporate executives be exempt?
. What about commuters simply passing through BKC?

"If concessions are given, then the policy should be fair to all. Authorities must also act against illegal occupation of public spaces. There also needs to be clarity on entry and exit points."

Ajay Govale
Senior vice-president, Climate Action and Community Resiliency, United Way Mumbai
"It's certainly a noble initiative that has dual benefits."

As per Govale, initiative could:
. Reduce traffic congestion
. Save fuel
. Lower air pollution
. Increase public transport ridership

However, he added: "These initiatives must be backed by systematic efforts to make public transport accessible and convenient to people."

Jitendra Gupta Transport expert
"Friday's response will indicate the level of public acceptance of the initiative. It will also help assess whether the initiative has provided any relief from traffic congestion."

Voices from BKC

Jayesh Shah Chairman, BKC Property Owners' Association
"It is a really good initiative started by MMRDA, and we hope this step in the right direction receives a positive response from the public. BKC certainly needs better last-mile connectivity, and we understand that such changes cannot happen overnight. However, it is encouraging to see the government and the traffic department taking efforts to improve connectivity. Some employees told me they travelled by Metro's Aqua Line and then used auto-rickshaws to reach their offices."