Mumbai Gears Up For Linking Of 34 Metro Stations With 39 Suburban Rail Hubs To Enhance Travel Efficiency

Mumbai is set for linking of 34 metro stations with 39 suburban railway stations to boost travel efficiency and comfort across multiple transport modes, reported Hindustan Times.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), working with Indian Railways and other state agencies, has mapped out the integration, which also connects to the Monorail and the planned Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) pod taxi system.

A joint committee from the Railways and state bodies will supervise the Multi Modal Integration (MMI) programme.

The committee will meet later this month at Central Railway’s CSMT headquarters to discuss station redesigns, passenger capacity, and lessons from past interchange issues.

“Multimodal integration is the backbone of efficient public transportation. We have mapped out several metro stations for seamless connection with suburban rail, and are also working on links to large commercial spaces to improve last-mile connectivity,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.

The plan includes 14 stations on Western Railway, 22 on Central Railway, and a proposed suburban station near Thane.

The BKC pod taxi will link Kurla West and Bandra East, while Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk Monorail will connect to Mahalaxmi on WR.

Officials aim to avoid congestion seen at Ghatkopar and Andheri.

“We’ve seen the drawbacks of unplanned connectivity… This time, we want advanced planning and adequate holding areas,” a senior railway official was quoted as saying in the report.

Upgrades will feature larger decks, wider footpaths, designated parking, better crossings, and improved signages within 500 metres of stations. A passenger footfall study will determine peak loads and interchange facility needs.

Also Read: Maharashtra Charts Rs 1.3 Lakh Crore Mobility Blueprint To Ease Pune And Pimpri Chinchwad Congestion