Mumbai's obsession with cars is now a well-known story. The entire infrastructure is developed and modernized to facilitate movement of private vehicles while public transport takes a backseat. The new coast road project and the multiple flyovers are just a few examples. Even the metro has hiked fares such that working class people cannot afford to use it for their daily commute.
This is not the only story though. In the recent past, there has been more segregation based on economic situations of people. Flyovers like the JJ flyover, worli-bandra sealink, eastern freeway, etc. are not open to bikes or autos. Same is the case with roads leading to the airports; both domestic and international. The new overhead road linking the western express highway to the new international terminal is not open to autorickshaws and bikes. They still have to take the old trafficky route. The swanky roads are only open to cars and taxis.
The domestic terminal has separate halt points for autos and bikes which are away from the main entrance of the terminals. They're about a 5-min walk but still - the message seems to be that these vehicles do not deserve to be seen at the swanky exterior of the terminals.
Prepaid taxis or fleet taxis are the only options to exit from the airports. The prepaid taxis charge almost 3.5-4 times what a regular taxi would charge but that's the only recourse available. If one does not want to spend that much, one has to walk for about 15 minutes to reach the nearest main road from where one can get a regular cab. The metro runs just a kilometer or two away from the new international terminal; yet no effort has been made to connect the two to make travel easier for passengers.
The nexus between taxi unions and policymakers, obsession with private vehicles and overall disdain for public transport has all contributed to making commuting in Mumbai an absolute nightmare and to segregation based on economic status.
This is not the only story though. In the recent past, there has been more segregation based on economic situations of people. Flyovers like the JJ flyover, worli-bandra sealink, eastern freeway, etc. are not open to bikes or autos. Same is the case with roads leading to the airports; both domestic and international. The new overhead road linking the western express highway to the new international terminal is not open to autorickshaws and bikes. They still have to take the old trafficky route. The swanky roads are only open to cars and taxis.
The domestic terminal has separate halt points for autos and bikes which are away from the main entrance of the terminals. They're about a 5-min walk but still - the message seems to be that these vehicles do not deserve to be seen at the swanky exterior of the terminals.
Prepaid taxis or fleet taxis are the only options to exit from the airports. The prepaid taxis charge almost 3.5-4 times what a regular taxi would charge but that's the only recourse available. If one does not want to spend that much, one has to walk for about 15 minutes to reach the nearest main road from where one can get a regular cab. The metro runs just a kilometer or two away from the new international terminal; yet no effort has been made to connect the two to make travel easier for passengers.
The nexus between taxi unions and policymakers, obsession with private vehicles and overall disdain for public transport has all contributed to making commuting in Mumbai an absolute nightmare and to segregation based on economic status.
