Mumbai BEST strike: BKC’s Public Transport Day under strain

The second week of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authorityrsquos MMRDA Public Transport Day initiative in BandraKurla Complex BKC was hit by the indefinite Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST strike on Friday leaving many regular bus users scrambling for alternatives and exposing the business districtrsquos continued dependence on the cityrsquos bus networkCommuters jostle to get into an autorickshaw amid transport disruptions caused by the BEST strikeCorporate employees support staff and daily commuters said they were forced to switch to cabs autos Metro services and private buses at short notice often paying significantly more than their usual travel costsAuto drivers speakIrfan Kashmiri an autorickshaw operator in BandraKurla Complex BKClsquoThough we expected a major difference in the number of trips by early evening I had completed only a few more than usual If I normally take 15 trips by this time today I had taken 18 We expect shared autos to get more passengers because some singletrip autos are charging much higher faresrsquoRidehailing driverPraveen GhadgelsquoI have taken at least four more rides than usual today earning about R500 extra Most of the passengers I picked up were panicking because they were late for workrsquoCommuter voiceslsquoMy commute suddenly became costlierrsquoArun Mathew who works near BKC One said he usually depends on BEST buses for his return journey ldquoIn the morning I didnrsquot have an issue since I came with my coworkers as we often carpool but I had to leave early today for a personal reason and as I am a frequent BEST user I now donrsquot have the option of taking the public busrdquo Mathew eventually opted for a private bus service ldquoI looked into many options and then settled on taking a private bus service seat but this is costly compared to BEST prices For those who now have to take private buses it is going to cost a lot more than usualrdquolsquoRs 200 for a 2km ridersquoA female commuter who requested anonymity alleged that some autorickshaw drivers were charging significantly higher fares ldquoI always take the Metro till BKC and then take a shared auto But today when I got out of the Metro station and asked an auto driver he said it would cost R200 for a 2km ride I had to wait almost half an hour to get a reasonably priced autordquo She said that many colleagues reported facing similar issueslsquoNobody knew what was happeningrsquoAn elderly janitor from Santacruz said he spent nearly two hours waiting at a bus stop before learning about the strike ldquoI stood at the bus stop near my house for about two hours in the morning and was confused about what was happening I reluctantly took an auto to work and feared I would be reprimanded for being late Later a coworker told me about the BEST strikerdquoBKCrsquos Public Transport Day is a peopleled movement MMRDAEven as the ongoing BEST strike disrupted travel for many commuters heading to BandraKurla Complex BKC the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA said its Friday Public Transport Day initiative continued to receive support from institutions mobility partners and commuters In an interaction with midday Shankar Deshpande Chief Investment amp Planning Officer MMRDA spoke about contingency measures stakeholder participation and the longterm vision behind the initiativeShankar Deshpande Chief Investment amp Planning Officer MMRDA PicLinkedinExcerpts of the interviewWith the ongoing BEST strike affecting a large number of commuters what special arrangements or measures has MMRDA put in place in BKC to manage commuter movement and reduce inconvenienceThe BKC Friday Public Transport Day initiative brings together multiple stakeholders working collectively to promote sustainable mobility in BKC As part of the initiative several organisations and institutions encouraged employees and visitors to use public transport and shared mobility options Cityflo operated additional services while institutions such as Bharat Diamond Bourse arranged transport for employees travelling from Bandra and Kurla stations MMRDA employees and officials also participated by commuting through the Metro suburban rail network and other public transport modes The objective is to encourage greater use of public transport and support sustainable commuting practices across BKCAs the second edition of BKCrsquos Friday Public Transport Day is being observed how is MMRDA encouraging greater adoption of public transport and managing commuter demandFrom the outset MMRDA has maintained that Friday Public Transport Day is a public movement for people who travel to BKC for work business and other daily activities While MMRDA initiated and coordinated the effort the initiative belongs to all stakeholders and commuters who participate in itThe first edition was led by MMRDA while the second edition is being driven by WRI India Cityflo and participating stakeholders in BKC Future editions will see different stakeholders taking the lead reinforcing the collaborative nature of the initiativeParticipation is entirely voluntary The initiative aims to encourage people who regularly travel to BKC in private vehicles or companyprovided cars to experience public transport even if only once a week The goal is to demonstrate how small changes in commuting habits can help reduce congestion improve mobility lower emissions and contribute to a more sustainable BKCHas MMRDA coordinated with other transport agencies to provide alternative arrangements during the strike What has been the response from commuters so farThe initiative has received an encouraging response from commuters institutions and mobility partners across BKCA particularly positive response came from the autorickshaw community with a strong presence at key transit points such as Metro Line 3 stations and suburban railway stations helping commuters complete their lastmile journeysThe participation of autorickshaw drivers institutions employers and transport stakeholders reflects Mumbairsquos spirit of collective participation and resilience As a firstofitskind initiative for a business district in India Friday Public Transport Day is gradually evolving into a peopleled movement that promotes greater use of public transport and sustainable mobility choices