Passengers to play imp role in deciding feeder routes….Somit Sen
Mumbai: BEST wants passengers to play an important role in finalising the 12 feeder routes which will come up along the Metro rail network on the Ghatkopar-Versova corridor.
A senior BEST official said the transport body would seek feedback from passengers,ALMs,activists and corporators before deciding on the feeder routes.
Ideally,a feeder route would connect a Metro station to a densely-populated housing colony or locality.We can have more than one feeder route outside a Metro station depending on the demand.
The timetable of buses running on a feeder route would coincide with train arrival timings at a Metro station.The purpose of a feeder route is to enable passengers alighting from a Metro train to catch a bus home or to office.He or she should be able to catch the bus immediately after coming out of the station, the official said.The frequency of the buses will be decided later depending on the volumes of passengers at each station.
BEST also plans to integrate its photo-ID smartcard with Metro and Mono rail services so that a passenger can use one single card for multiple journeys and switch from one mode of transport to another with ease.In future,this card will also be integrated with Central & Western Railways.
BEST general manager Om Prakash Gupta was unavailable for comment.A senior official said,The MMRDA is the nodal authority in the Metro project.We will be liaisoning with them to ensure smooth passenger movement outside every station. BEST will also identify spaces for constructing bus stops and parking buses.
Auto and taxi unions too plan to set up stands within 200 metres of Metro stations.Said an auto union leader,We will have our autos parked outside every Metro station when the service starts in Mumbai.