User:Kensplanet/Mumbai/Transport


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Transport
Public transport systems in Mumbai include the Mumbai Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, ferries, and aeroplanes, and plays a dominant role. Rail and bus services combined carry about 88% of the passenger traffic. Black and yellow metered taxis traverse most of the metropolis. Auto rickshaws operate only in the suburban areas of Mumbai, while taxis mostly operate in South Mumbai. Taxis and rickshaws run on Compressed Natural Gas, and are the most convenient, economical, and easily available means of transport. Mumbai has about 1.53 million vehicles, 56,459 black and yellow taxis, and 1,02,224 auto rickshaws.

Mumbai is served by National Highway 3, National Highway 4 and National Highway 8 of the Indian National Highways system. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was the first expressway ever built in India, while the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway is under construction. Recently, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge was opened, which along with Mahim Causeway, links the island city to the western suburbs. The two main road stretches within the city are the Eastern Express Highway from Sion to Mulund, and the Western Express Highway from Bandra to Borivali.

Mumbai is the headquarters of two railway zones: the Central Railway (CR) headquartered at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the Western Railway (WR) headquartered near Churchgate. The backbone of the city's transport, the Mumbai Suburban Railway, consists of three separate networks: Central, Western, and Harbour Line, running the length of the city, in a north-south direction. The Mumbai Metro is an underground and elevated rapid transit system currently under construction. The Mumbai Monorail, currently under construction, will run from Jacob Circle to Wadala when it is completed. Mumbai is well connected to most parts of India by the Indian Railways. Trains originate from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai Central, Bandra terminus and Andheri. Mumbai's suburban rail systems carry a total of 6.3 million passengers every day. Trains are overcrowded during peak hours, with nine-car trains having a maximum capacity of 1,700 passengers, carrying around 4,500 passengers. During 2003-2008, about 20,000 rail deaths were reported on the suburban railway, with an average of 10 deaths per day.

The bus services carry over 5.5 million passengers per day. Public buses run by BEST cover almost all parts of the metropolis, as well as parts of Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar and Thane. Buses are used for commuting short to medium distances, while train fares are more economical for long distance commutes. The BEST runs a total of 4,013 buses, ferrying 4.5 million passengers daily over 390 routes. Its fleet consists of single-decker, double-decker, vestibule, low-floor, disabled-friendly, air-conditioned and the Euro III compliant Compressed Natural Gas powered buses. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses provide intercity transport and connect Mumbai with other major cities of Maharashtra and India. The Mumbai Darshan is a tourist bus service which explores numerous tourist attractions in Mumbai. Mumbai BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) lanes have been planned throughout Mumbai, with buses running on seven routes as of March 2009. Though 88% of the commuters travel by public transport, Mumbai still continues to struggle with traffic congestion. The city has been categorized as one of the most congested cities in the world.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly Sahar International Airport) is the main aviation hub in the city and the busiest airport in India. The Juhu aerodrome was India's first airport, and now hosts a flying club and a heliport. The proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport which is to be built in the Kopra-Panvel area has been sanctioned by the Indian Government and would help relieve the increasing traffic burden on the existing airport.

Mumbai is served by two major ports, Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Mumbai Port has one of the best natural harbours in the world, and has extensive wet and dry dock accommodation facilities. Jawaharlal Nehru Port, commissioned on 26 May 1989, is the most modern major port in India. It handles 55-60% of the country's total containerized cargo. Mumbai is the headquarters of the Western Naval Command, and also an important base for the Indian Navy, Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Ferries from Ferry Wharf in Mazagaon allow access to islands near the city.