On Day One, robust response to Mumbai Metro 9, tepid for Line 2B

Mumbai: The first day of the Phase 1 stretches of Metro Line 9 (Kashigaon–Dahisar) and Line 2B (Mandale–Diamond Garden, Chembur) saw contrasting commuter response. While the Mira-Bhayander corridor attracted strong footfalls due to immediate travel gains, the eastern suburban line witnessed a subdued turnout because of its limited present-day connectivity. The ridership was so low in Line 2B that a staffer at one of the stations said that till 4.30pm, barely 250 people had travelled on this route since it started in the morning.Commuters on Metro 9, now seamlessly integrated with Line 7 up to Gundavali, said the new corridor is already shaving 15 to 20 minutes off daily journeys while offering a far more comfortable alternative to road travel and overcrowded suburban trains.A Metro One (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) official said, "On day 1 of the opening of Metro 9, positive ridership trends were observed in all 5 stations between WEH and Saki Naka." Metro 2A and 7 have had a combined average per day ridership of 3.4 lakh. It is expected to rise by at least 1 lakh following the commissioning of Line 9. For many residents of Mira Road and Bhayander, the biggest relief is escaping the chronic traffic bottleneck at Dahisar check naka. "This is a huge relief. Earlier, reaching Dahisar itself used to be a struggle. Now, I can board the metro at Kashigaon and reach Andheri far more comfortably," said Hari Pal, a logistics professional who commutes to Andheri East.Vaibhav Singh, a resident of Jesal Park in Bhayander East, said he earlier spent nearly 45 minutes just reaching Andheri via Bhayander station. "Now, I can get to Kashigaon in 10 to 15 minutes and then take the metro directly. It saves time and is far more comfortable than buses, which often take over an hour." Two students from Mira Road who travel to a school in Dahisar told TOI the metro is far more economical than the Rs 60 autorickshaw fare. Samadhan Patil, travelling with his family to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, said, "It's faster, more convenient and ideal." Pradeep Shetty, a hospitality professional from Mira Road, said, "Earlier I had to take an auto to Dahisar and then board Metro 7. This direct connectivity to Andheri will help many," he said.Several regular commuters described the service as "better late than never", saying it finally offers relief from crowded local trains at Mira Road and Dahisar stations. Women commuters said they don't have to wait for buses.However, some pointed to safety concerns, saying platform screen doors would improve passenger security. At present, guards with whistles are stationed on platforms.In contrast, the first stretch of Metro 2B received a muted response. Several commuters said the corridor, in its current form, is yet to become a practical choice for daily office travel as it neither connects with the monorail nor links major commercial hubs.Navi Mumbai's Arindam Mahapatra, an infrastructure enthusiast, said, "The line's true potential will unfold only after it is extended to crucial interchange and business districts such as Kurla, Bandra and Andheri. Once these nodes are connected, Line 2B is likely to emerge as a key east-west mobility corridor."Unlike in the past, when agencies routinely shared day one ridership figures for metro corridors, at the time of going to press, MMRDA had not released commuter numbers.