Weekly Public Transport Day in BKC launches as MMRDA urges Friday public transport commutes

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started a Weekly Public Transport Day in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The plan asks nearly two lakh professionals in the business district to use public transport every Friday. MMRDA said the move supports smoother travel in BKC and aims to cut traffic and pollution.

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MMRDA said the initiative was launched with WRI India on World Environment Day. In a release issued on Saturday, MMRDA said the drive focuses on sustainable mobility in the commercial hub. The authority linked the effort to daily commuting pressure in BKC and the need to reduce congestion on key approach roads.

MMRDA public transport drive in BKC targets Friday commutes

The announcement came during a high-level roundtable, MMRDA said. Senior government officials, transport agencies, corporate representatives and mobility experts attended. MMRDA said stakeholders agreed to motivate employees and organisations in BKC. The goal is public or shared transport use every Friday across offices and workplaces.

A mobility study shared at the meeting showed heavy reliance on non-public options. It said 52 per cent of commuters to BKC use private vehicles, taxis and autorickshaws. Public transport use stood at 25 per cent, the study found. The release also noted that daily travel time remained high for many commuters.

The study said more than 54 per cent of commuters spend over two hours travelling each day. MMRDA said this points to lost time and added road pressure. The authority linked long travel hours to congestion and uneven mode choices. It said shifting some trips to mass transit could help reduce delays.

MMRDA cites metro links for public transport use in BKC

MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said small changes could bring visible results in BKC. "even a modest shift towards public transport and shared mobility could significantly ease congestion, improve travel efficiency and reduce emissions in BKC.\" Mukherjee said weekly action matters given the scale of daily travel into the district.

With close to two lakh professionals travelling to BKC each day, Mukherjee said even one weekday switch can help. \"With nearly two lakh professionals commuting to BKC every day, encouraging public transport use even once a week can have a meaningful impact on mobility and the environment,\" Mukherjee said in the release.

MMRDA said the push gains importance as metro access improves in BKC. Metro Line 3 is already operational, the release said. It added that Metro Lines 2B and 4 are expected next. MMRDA said these lines should place most of the business district within one kilometre of a metro station.

Representatives from transport agencies, Mumbai Traffic Police, major BKC-based companies and mobility experts joined the roundtable, MMRDA said. The release said participants pledged support for sustainable commuting practices. MMRDA said the Weekly Public Transport Day will continue as a regular Friday effort in BKC.

With inputs from PTI