MSRTC launches direct e-Shivai buses to Navi Mumbai airport from Dadar, Borivli, Pune

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC started its new direct eShivai services to Navi Mumbai International Airport NMIA on Wednesday October 7 from Dadar Borivli and Punersquos Swargate The airconditioned electric buses offer passengers a fixedfare public transport alternative to cabs and taxis But the bigger question is whether air travellers will actually use them particularly those carrying luggagepopcorn number8 descNo of daily services classDefaultpopcorn number16 descservices each way daily classDefaultBorivliNMIA Borivli departures 630 am645 pm NMIA departures 9 am1045 pm Adult fare Rs 210 Child fare Rs 105 Route BorivliPushpa ParkMaladDomestic AirportKalanagarSionKurlaVashiNerulNMIADadarNMIA Dadar departures 530 am930 pm NMIA departures 7 am1110 pm Adult fare Rs 170 Concessionary fare Rs 85 Route DadarBycullaCSMTAtal SetuGavhan PhataNMIAThe real testOn paper the proposition is attractive airconditioned electric buses fixed fares and direct connectivity via Atal Setu at a fraction of typical cab fares But airport passengers are not ordinary commuters They travel with suitcases have flight deadlines and often value doortodoor convenience over price That makes luggage space ease of boarding punctuality and journey reliability crucial to whether these buses succeed ldquoIf the eShivai buses provide adequate underfloor luggage storage and maintain reliable schedules they could become a useful lowcost option for air travellers If not they risk becoming primarily a means of transport for airport staff and regular commuters rather than passengers flying out of NMIArdquo a commuter saidAt a glanceDadarNMIA16 services each way dailyDadar departures 530 am930 pmNMIA departures 7 am 1110 pmRs 170Adult fareRs 85Concessionary fareRoute DadarBycullaCSMTAtal SetuGavhan PhataNMIAPuneNMIA2 services dailyDepartures 615 am and 245 pmJourney time around 2 hours 29 minutesRs 455Adult fareRs 230Child fareBorivliNMIA8 services each way dailyBorivli departures 630 am645 pmNMIA departures 9 am1045 pmRs 210Adult fareRs 105Child fareRoute BorivliPushpa ParkMaladDomestic AirportKalanagarSionKurlaVashiNerulNMIAA board displaying details of the new eShivai bus service at Navi Mumbai International AirportPune gets direct NMIA linkPune has also been connected directly with NMIA with two daily SwargateNMIA services via Khalapur Phata The buses depart at 615 am and 245 pm with the journey taking around 2 hours 29 minutes The fare is Rs 465An eShivai electric bus operated by MSRTC for services to Navi Mumbai International Airport picsby special arrangementLuggage could decide the rideThe launch has already sparked debate among commuters Shubham Padave who regularly sees airportbound buses at Andheri East said existing services are often packed with airport employees while passengers carrying luggage generally prefer private cabs and taxis There is however another view Navi Mumbai resident Arindam Mahapatra believes the new buses could address the luggage issue if they have underfloor boot space similar to MumbaiPune buses Gandharva Purohit said the success of the service could depend on whether luggage racks below the buses are actually available and adequately utilised Without them he said the eShivai services may be little different from existing Chalo buses apart from ticket pricingAn MSRTC eShivai bus that will operate direct services to Navi Mumbai International AirportDadar and Borivli servicesThe DadarNMIA service will have 16 services in each direction daily Dadar departures will run from 530 am to 930 pm while NMIA departures will run from 7 am to 1110 pm The adult fare is Rs 170 and the concessionary fare is Rs 85 The route runs via Byculla CSMT railway station Atal Setu and Gavhan Phata before reaching NMIA From Borivli MSRTC has introduced eight services in each direction daily The outward service runs from 630 am to 645 pm while NMIA departures run from 9 am to 1045 pm The full BorivliNMIA fare is Rs 210 The route covers Pushpa Park Malad Domestic Airport Kalanagar Sion Kurla Vashi and NerulCommuters SpeakShrikant Ramkrishnan bus enthusiastlsquoAll depends on how the service is operated BMTC Bangalore has been operating the Vayu Vajra bus service successfully for 18 years now It has a higher fare than the regular Vajra fleet even in the city Theyrsquove always been either a Volvo with luggage racks or now a Switch They run as express services with fewer stops They run 24x7 The nearest Vayu Vajra stop is 1km away for me There are services almost twice an hour except for a onehour gap at midnight Take an auto to the bus stop and board the bus It costs me Rs 350 A cab will cost me a minimum of 1500 There are no extra charges for luggageArindam Mahapatra Navi Mumbai residentlsquoWhile the initiative taken by MSRTC is a very bold move itrsquos up to the commuters to decide how to use this service Irrespective of someone travelling solo or going with family the fares are quite reasonable Especially for someone travelling with a family a oneway trip by cab can go north of Rs 2000 during peak hours for someone travelling from Western Suburbs to NMIA At present the cost of tickets feels justified to use this service oncersquoSahil Pusalkar commuterlsquoIt can work if MSRTC ensures hasslefree luggage handling proper publicity punctuality and most importantly cleanliness unlike some of the Shivai and Shivneri services currently operating Bengalurursquos Flybus is a good example of how a wellplanned airport bus service can become a practical choice for passengersrsquoRupak Dhakate commuterlsquoIf there is adequate luggage storage space then average commuters might think of going A solo traveller might opt The impression of ST buses is that they are dirty and not maintained If these buses are kept clean and well maintained then it will attract airport travellers provided they repeatedly keep promoting these services and it is mentioned at airport premises also Otherwise they will just be preferred by the general public and staff for travelling to and from the airport or nearby areas as substitutes for existing city bus routesrsquoShubham Padave commuterlsquoI think this depends upon the accessibility of busescabs outside the airport As most of the passengers are tired after a journey they prefer to get access to the easiest available mode of transport which can carry their luggage as well and drop them close to their homesrsquo