Summer heat and poor infrastructure derail MMRDA’s first Friday public transport day in Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbaikars offered a tepid, reluctant response to MMRDA’s maiden Public Transport Day initiative in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) on Friday.The scorching summer heat, anaemic bus frequency, rogue auto drivers and the daunting prospect of walking a km or two to the nearest railway station appeared to be a foolhardy adventure for India Inc.

In fact, the prospect of crowds increasing in buses and trains in the wake of the govt advisory was a real threat. As a result, there was neither a significant visible reduction in traffic congestion nor a noticeable increase in public transport usage compared to a typical weekday.While several organisations issued advisories encouraging employees to use public transport and Cityflo enhanced feeder bus services, on-ground conditions remained unchanged.Social media users pointed out that oiling the wheels of the public transport system would serve the cause better than sporadic pop-up campaigns.Traffic police said the volume of vehicles plying in BKC did appear 15-20% lesser on Friday morning, but by evening, it was back to normal. “Not many people appear to have used public transport today,” admitted an officer.TOI reporters visited BKC in the afternoon and again during evening peak hour.

The campaign appeared to gain limited traction. Motorists continued to use cars and SUVs.Madhvi Andhare, who works at Nivoda, was blunt about not participating. “(I would consider) Public transport only if my driver is not available. You have issues all around in BKC regardless of the day,” she said.In fact, those who do use public transport described Friday as particularly punishing. Kiran Patil of Cushman & Wakefield, a frequent public transport user, said he had been waiting 15 minutes for an auto to Powai, which usually takes five minutes.

“A share-auto costs Rs 50 on a regular day, but after 5pm, it goes over Rs 100,” he noted.Surge pricing emerged as a recurring grievance. One commuter said he pays about Rs 200 for a ride home to Ghatkopar, compared to under Rs 100 in the morning. Another, living just 3.5 km from BKC, typically pays Rs 250, a fare inflated further during peak hours.Passengers at crowded bus stops complained of having waited from 30 minutes to a whole hour.Listing the gaps in infrastructure, an executive from Wockhardt building in G Block smirked, “And this is the city’s premier business district!”The G Block members’ association is partnering the Friday initiative. A senior executive from an infrastructure finance company said, “We shifted our working days to Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. We will evaluate this experiment and take a decision in a few weeks.”MMRDA has publicly thanked the diamond merchants of Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) for supporting its initiative.

Ashok Gajera, owner of Laxmi Diamonds in BDB, claimed the number of private vehicles entering BKC was down by around 40%. “There were definitely fewer cars,” he said. However, security figures showed the entry of cars in BDB was down by 10%.Some diamond merchants dismissed the exercise as a publicity stunt, questioning why the responsibility was on citizens, while political convoys continued to occupy significant road space.

“We had the same traffic jams today,” said diamantaire Mehul Shah. “I did not see any noticeable difference.”Interestingly, several large events were also underway in the business district. A major SAP users’ conference at the Jio World Convention Centre had reportedly drawn around 10,000 invitees. At the same time, the diamond industry was hosting international visitors, including a delegation from Italy and the Mayor of Antwerp.

Most attendees travelled by private vehicles.Social media users demanded improved discipline. Pratik Shinde posted on X, “At Tilak Nagar station today around 9:30 am, an auto driver refused to operate by the meter and demanded Rs 300 to BKC. When asked to use the meter, he refused and instead demanded Rs 200 per person for a shared ride.”Activist Zoru Bhathena said, “Re-opening Sion Station Road bridge is the only thing that will help decongest BKC traffic.

Everything else is just time-pass.” Deven Nimkar posted, “...Please stop these PR stunts and complete projects on time.”Yet an oasis of support did surface. Private bus service Cityflo doubled its capacity during peak-hour on the Aqua Line Metro feeder loops from three to six, said an MMRCL spokesperson. Organisations like Insurance Institute of India, Naman Group, SEBI, SIDBI and Tata Communications issued internal circulars to employees.

Central govt offices, Trident and G Block members did likewise. An MMRDA spokesperson said, “All our employees came by public transport today.

”Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, thanked corporates and individuals for the “positive response” and hoped that numbers would grow next Friday.(Inputs by Somit Sen, Vaibhavi Kumari, Hemali Chhapia, Nitasha Natu & Manthan Mehta)