Mumbai Transportations
By Local Trains
Local Trains are the major means of transport in Mumbai. Most of the
city-dwellers rely on Mumbai Suburban Railway to travel within the
metropolis. The extensive network of Railways has three lines, called the
Western Line, the Central Main Line and the Harbour Line.
By Taxi
Hiring a taxi is a convenient way of traveling in and around Mumbai. They
are small sized cars which are cheap and easily available. The regular
taxis are black and yellow in color, with manual meters and without air
condition. There are even pre-paid taxis available, which rule out the
meter and fix the fare before hand. From midnight, till 5 a.m. in the
morning, 25 percent extra fare is charged. Big sized luggage items are
charged at Rs 10 each. Before getting into a taxi, ensure that the meter
is working properly.
By Auto Rickshaw
Auto rickshaw is yet another one of the comfortable means to travel in the
city. These are not available in the downtown areas and operate only
beyond Bandra and Sion in the western and central suburbs, respectively.
Autos also carry meters and the initial marking is 10.00. Ensure the
reading is right as soon as you board an auto. It should be preferred only
for short distances, as its speed is very slow.
By Bus
Buses are the most popular means of transport in Mumbai. A major chunk of
the population travels by bus. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
(BEST) buses provide efficient services in and around the city. There are
buses connecting Mumbai to the suburban areas like Navi Mumbai, Thane and
Mira-Bhayanadar. The buses are numbered according to the route they run on
and are usually very crowded. The tickets are given by a uniformed
conductor. The buses operate till midnight and have seats reserved for
senior citizens, ladies and handicapped.
By Car
Cars are also provided to the tourists by the Travel Agents and Hotels.
These are private cars available with a private chauffeur for the
convenience of the travelers. Though they are expensive, they are the
safe, trusted and comfortable way of traveling around the city.