BKC to Aarey: Metro and auto-rickshaw travel times match, but prices don't

Two parallel journeysmdashone by the new Metro Aqua Line 3 and the other via autorickshawmdashon Wednesday afternoon revealed that both modes of transit ferried the commuter the approximately 15km distance between the Aarey JVLR and BKC Metro stations within the same amount of timemdash36 minutesThe exact distance between the Metro Aqua Linersquos Aarey and BKC stations is about 1269 km while by road it is 151 km The journey was conducted from BKC Metro stationrsquos Bandra collectorrsquos office approach road entryexit to the main gate of AareyJVLR stationWhile the Metro train journey took 23 minutes an additional 10 minutes was spent on buying the ticket reaching the platform via the concourse and waiting for the train whose offpeak frequency is 1011 minutes and then getting into the car The cost of a oneway single Metro ticket from BKC to Aarey is Rs 50 while an auto ride covering the same distance costs at least Rs 220ldquoThe Metro scores over other modes of transport in terms of fuel usage and environmental impact The line will be even more beneficial once it opens all the way to Cuffe Parade The Metro line is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 261 lakh tonnes per year and save 354000 litres of fuel dailyrdquo a Metro official saidMETRO JOURNEYBKC to Aarey JVLR stationThe journalist arrived at the Bandra Kurla Complex station entry gate of the Bandra collectorrsquos office approach road entryexit at 250 pm The escalators at the entry gate are yet to be completed hence he had to walk down two floors and another 100 metres to the ticket counter After buying the ticket clearing the security checks and scanning the ticket he reached the platform only to witness the 254 train for Aarey departingThe next train arrived and the journey commenced at 303 pm The train arrived at Bandra Colony at 306 pm Santacruz at 307 pm T1 at 311 pm Sahar Road at 315 pm T2 at 317 pm Marol at 319 pm MIDC Andheri at 321 pm SEEPZ at 323 pm and finally Aarey JVLR at 326 pm421PM The journey back to BKC station began after a train arrived at 421 pm right 454 PM The Metro station at Bandra Kurla Complex where the train arrived at 454 pmAarey JVLR to BKC stationFor the return journey the journalist walked from the Aarey entry gate to buy a ticket at 415 pm The train was not at the platform It arrived at 421 pm and departed a minute later The train journey started with the next station SEEPZ arriving at 425 pm and MIDC at 428 pm It was here that was detained till 433 pm due to a technical snag After this the train moved swiftly reaching BKC at 454 pmAUTO JOURNEYBKC to Aarey JVLR stationIt took the reporter 35 minutes and 58 seconds to get to Aarey JVLR Metro station via an Ola auto The charge was between Rs 213 and Rs 219 while the meter reading was Rs 238The reporter before embarking for Aarey JVLR station via autoThe parallel stretch between BKC Metro station and CSMIA T1 Metro station was commuted in 14 minutes and 42 seconds The meter reading was R92 at this point Traffic conditions were moderate with Google Maps showing yellow patches in various locations of the Western Express HighwayTraffic encountered on the Western Express Highway on Wednesday afternoonAarey JVLR to BKC stationReturning to BKC station proved challenging as aggregator services and regular autos were a bit hesitant to ply After many failed attempts the reporter got an auto and it took 39 minutes and 24 seconds to get back Uber charged R206 while the meter reading was R238 Similarly the parallel stretch between CSMIA T1 Metro station and BKC Metro station was commuted in 10 minutes and 30 seconds The traffic conditions were moderate on the highway especially between Mumbai airport terminals 1 and 236 minApproximate time taken to cover distance between Aarey JVLR and BKC stationsCommuterSpeakAakanksha Singh Powai resident who travels to Bandra Kurla Complex for workThe IT professional who lives near IIM Mumbai takes the Saki Vihar Road and travels via CSMIA T2 till she can reach the Western Express Highway ldquoI leave for work at 9 am and return after 6 pm The oneway rickshaw ride costs anywhere between Rs 265 to Rs 300 depending on traffic Cabs can cost up to R800 in the evening and R450 in the morningrdquo she saidldquoI took the Aqua Line Metro twice and I realised it makes a difference of around 10 minutes only The lastmile connectivity from Powai is not great I board from Marol Naka as reaching the Aarey JVLR station means taking a long Uturn as the crossing divider is barricaded due to Metro Line 6 construction The BKC stationrsquos escalators are still not working which means at least a halfakilometre walk from the womenrsquos coach till one can reach the exitrdquo she saidHowever her daily fares have been reduced to around Rs 150 she saidShreyas Shinde Borivli residentHe said ldquoIn the morning peak hours from Aarey to BKC there is huge traffic along the stretch more so between T1 and T2 In the evening peak hours there is a similar situation with the same traffic spots The train will be helpful in bypassing trafficrdquo