Public transport is very accessible, as well as affordable in Mumbai. Unlike most other parts of India, the auto rickshaws travel by meter and don't fuss about the destination. The base fare is Rs. 18 for the first 1.5 km, and then Rs. 12. 19 per km. Mumbai also has a good and extensive bus network, The BEST bus network, which runs AC buses as well. The local black and yellow or the kaali-peeli taxis are also a popular mode of commuting in the city as they run on reasonable rates and are readily available. However, the traffic conditions in Mumbai are terrible, making local trains the best option to reach somewhere on time.
The Mumbai local trains are considered the lifeline of the city. They operate for the major part of the day and are shut only for a few hours from 1:30 AM to 3 AM. They are cheap and provide excellent connectivity and reliability. Travelling by the local is an experience in itself. It is not for the weak hearted though, as both the trains and the stations, can get incredibly crowded during peak hours. There are daily, monthly and even quarterly passes (4 months) available which can be purchased either at the local railway station by presenting an ID proof or online through the UTs app. The trains run over many different routes and are connected to all major places in Mumbai. Both the Central and Western railway lines have both slow and fast trains. The Central line starts from CST and ends at Khasara or Kopoli, splitting at Kalyan Junction. The Harbor line is a sub-part of the Central line which ends at Panvel and has only slow trains. The Western line starts from Churchgate and ends at Dahanu road. There is also the Trans-Harbour and Trans-Western line, connecting Harbor line to Central and Western line respectively. No fast trains are available on these routes. Details of the local trains - such as timing, routes etc are available on the app m-Indicator.
The Mumbai metro and monorail also provide connectivity in some select areas of the city. The Line 1 of the Mumbai metro has been completed and is operational, which runs along the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor. Two other lines: Dahisar - Charkop - Bandra - Mankhurd and Colaba - Bandra - SEEPZ are under construction and planned, respectively. The Mumbai monorail, which completed its construction under Phase 1 in mid-2017, connects Jacob Circle, Wadala and Mahul via Chembur, and provides a feeder service to the existing Mumbai Suburban Railway. It is the 5th largest mono-rail system in the world. The cable-stayed bridge - the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is also a popular commuting choice that links Bandra in the west to Worli in the south of Mumbai. There are 8 lanes of bridges and they are of strategic importance in providing good connectivity to the financial hub in Nariman point.
Waterways is also an option for the commute, primarily to some tourist destinations in the city. Regular ferry services have begun in 2017 from Mora jetty in Uran to the Elephanta Caves. Private ferries and jetties also run from the Gateway of India to Mandwa and Rewas. The introduction of the Roll on Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ferries has also resulted in better connectivity to the Alibaug region.
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