First day riders share how 2 new metro lines will help ease suburb commutes

Passengers have a free and fun ride on the Metro on Saturday night. Pic/Satej Shinde

sAs the much-awaited Metro corridors - lines 2A and 7 - were flagged off by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, thousands of people were seen taking joyrides for free, with around 12,000 people riding the Metro on Saturday night itself. mid-day correspondents and photographers also took rides and interacted with passengers to see how the lines were faring and what Mumbaikars' first impression of the Metro was.

Deepak Chauhan, a commuter on the Metro, on Sunday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Yuva Sena core committee member Ankit Prabhu, who was one of the first passengers to board the train from Aarey station at 7.45 pm, said, "We are extremely happy that both the corridors have been thrown open for public and I am confident that these lines will be a boon for daily commuters. This will help save a lot of time for commuters travelling between Dahisar and Aarey, and Dahisar and Dahanukar Wadi. In addition, this environment-friendly public transport will also bring down the pollution level."

Youngsters ride a metro between Aarey Colony and Dahanukarwadi on Saturday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Goregaon resident Bipin Raut, aged 62, said, "I travel between Goregaon and Dahisar frequently and I used to take my car. With this Metro line opening, I will no longer have to get stuck in traffic on the Western Express Highway, especially during morning and evening peak hours."

Another commuter, Swamini Wad, said, "It's a proud moment for Mumbaikars as two important metro corridors have been thrown open for the public. I feel that once the entire line between Dahisar and Andheri East and Dahisar and DN Nagar is operational it would benefit even more commuters."

However, senior mid-day photographer Satej Shinde who took the last train from Dahanukarwadi to Aarey told this correspondent that it took him around two hours to reach Aarey as the train suffered some technical glitches. While Saturday's rides were free, Sunday also saw scores of Mumbaikar take a ride.

Ramesh Poojary, a 66-year-old from Kandarpada, who took a ride on Sunday morning

Deepak Chauhan, 39, who was travelling to Kurar with his family, said, "It is a big relief to people living in north Mumbai. People are fed up with traffic jams on the Western Express Highway. I usually travel by my two-wheeler, but now I will opt for metro. The fares are reasonable too."

Another commuter, Sandeep Ahire, 32, who came from Dombivli, said, "I have some work in Goregaon, so I thought of taking the metro from Dahisar. It was a good experience. The overall infrastructure is good and it will save a lot of time. We are eagerly waiting for the metro to come to Dombivli in the near future."

Ramesh Poojary, a 66-year-old of Kandarpada, said, "It is a joy ride for me. The fare is very reasonable and the travel time is much less compared to the road. This will help rid some of the traffic on the road and will also help those who used to travel in crowded local trains."

A metro arrives at Borivli East station on Sunday morning. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Even children were eager to travel by metro train. Yagnesh Rane, a Std IX student, who came along with his father Paresh Rane all the way from Dombivli for a ride, said, "I was curious to know what the metro and stations look like, especially after reading about them for so long. I asked my dad to bring me here and I'm happy that we're here. This is also my first time travelling in a metro train."

Mahendra Bhai Makwana, 69, who also travelled by metro for the first time, said, "I had never travelled in a metro train. So when I heard about the new services, I came to experience it. I'm happy with the arrangements and it was a good experience."

12,000
Approximate no. of passengers on Saturday

80-100
No. of commuters who protested the sudden train cancellation at Aarey station