5000 commuters travel in 4 hours on inaugural day of Navi Mumbai metro

By: Pune Pulse

November 18, 2023

Pune: On November 17, the Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1, which stretches 11.1 kilometers from Belapur to Pendhar, began its commercial operations without any official ceremonies. Managed by Maha Metro, the line witnessed a strong ridership of over 5,000 commuters within the first five hours of service on its inaugural day, lasting until 8 pm. The last trip is scheduled for 10 pm.

Rajesh Patil, Joint Managing Director of CIDCO, expressed his satisfaction with the response and enthusiasm of the people towards the inauguration of Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 from Belapur to Pendhar. He believes that this new addition to the city’s transportation system will greatly contribute to fulfilling the dreams of the people.

As per the information provided, on its inaugural day, the Navi Mumbai Metro commenced operations at four stations, namely Kendriya Vihar, Central Park, Belapur, and Pendhar. With a workforce of 20 drivers, including three women, the Metro will now provide services from 6 am to 10 pm. At 3 pm on the day of the launch, one male driver and three female drivers began their services from various stations

The Navi Mumbai Metro drivers have completed an extensive four-week training program under the guidance of experts from Pune and Nagpur metros. According to a MahaMetro official, each driver is accountable for eight trips on the metro line.

According to CIDCO, the Navi Mumbai Metro operates at a speed of 60-65kmph, although its testing speed is 90 kmph. It takes approximately 30 minutes to travel the 11.1 km stretch from Belapur to Pendhar, which includes 11 stations. The fare for Navi Mumbai Metro ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 40, depending on the distance covered by the commuters.