One of Mumbai Metro's busiest lines is the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor. Consequently, at peak hours, commuters have to wait for trains. However, even if they manage to board the first train, they still encounter overcrowding concerns. Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) decided to start a shuttle service between Andheri and Ghatkopar in light of this. This will improve the route's services and make room for more commuters.
The authorities made a successful attempt to test the shuttle services on March 6. Some trains ran from Versova to Ghatkopar during this period, while some trains ran between Versova and Andheri, according to a TOI report. The operation dates will be announced soon.
“We tried and tested a new train schedule to check the possibilities of boosting frequency during peak hours on the Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch. In good news, the results were encouraging. Now, we are closely analysing the impact to optimise future operations,” said an official from MMOPL to TOI.
Authorities expect that the shuttle service will accommodate an additional 5,000 passengers during peak hours.
Approximately 7,500 of the 60,000 commuters who use Metro One during peak hours go to stations like Versova, D N Nagar, and Azad Nagar, while the majority—87.5%, or 52,500 commuters—go between Andheri and Ghatkopar only.
In the crowded Andheri-Ghatkopar section, the new service will also increase train frequency. As a result, the headway will be lowered from 220 seconds to 205 seconds—an almost 8 percent improvement in capacity.
At present, Metro One operates around 430 trips on weekdays, with services running from 5:30 am to 11:25 pm from Versova and until 11:50 pm from Ghatkopar. Mumbai Metro One, which was introduced in June 2014, offers a vital substitute for the crowded Andheri-Kurla Road, which is home to many hotels and corporate offices.