‘Thinking of Working in BKC? Better Live Close By’: Office Goers Share the Harsh Reality of Mumbai Commute

A recent post on Reddit has started a big conversation about what it is really like to work in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), one of Mumbai’s most famous business and financial hubs. BKC is known for its tall office buildings, luxury hotels, and high-end homes. But while the area may look glamorous, the post warns that getting to and from work there can be a daily struggle if you don’t live close by.

Don’t Ever Take a Job at BKC

The Reddit user, in a post titled “Don’t Ever Take a Job at BKC,” shared a clear warning: “Don’t ever, ever take a job in BKC unless you live in Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, or Vile Parle, or near any Metro stations.” 

The main reason is the travel. According to the user, public buses like BEST get caught in heavy traffic. Private cars and bikes face the same problem. Autorickshaws, on which many people depend, can be unreliable because “they rule here; apne marzi se, they will decide the fares, traffic, destination, where they will drop you, and everything.”

Daily Frustration for Workers

The post goes on to explain how strict office timings can make the situation even worse. “Your day will start with useless frustration if your workplace is strict with punch-in timings,” the user said. They added that unless you are getting a “very good salary,” the long and stressful journey may not be worth it. The writer said they have “seen people running after their work timings just to get their trains and overloaded buses to stations. Some people don’t have the option, so they are doing the adjustment.”

Don’t ever.. ever take a job in BKC.
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Others Share the Same Pain

This experience resonated deeply with numerous individuals. In the comments, another user described their own struggle: “When I was 22/23, I was fascinated with working at BKC; on paper it seemed doable, but then for certain events I went there, and while getting into BKC was easy, getting out was nigh impossible, no autos, no cabs. I always had to work to Jio Drive, then get an auto on meter.”

Why the Problem Persists

The same commenter blamed poor planning and the strong hold of the “share auto mafia.” They said, “Bandra-BKC-Kurla is underdeveloped with transit because of how much influence the share auto mafia has.” They argued that the area “could easily have had a bus-only lane system in place of the cycling lane (I love cycling lanes, but they made it in the middle of nowhere; of course it would fail) while still having 2 lanes for cars both ways.”

Big Plans, But Big Doubts

They also criticized the city’s planning body, saying, “Of course big brain BMC, which is the most car-centric municipality in India, thinks ‘Just One More Lane, Bro’ is actual advice and not a meme and now will remove cycle lanes for another lane of cars.” The commenter mocked the idea of a new “pod taxi,” saying it is “basically auto rickshaws but even more claustrophobic and with the benefits of climbing 2-4 flights of stairs/lifts, etc.”

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In their view, Bandra-BKC-Kurla “could have been the pilot to reintroduce trams in India, but the share auto mafia takes precedence.” They warned that the planned pod taxi has “very low capacity (just 75k per day, while footfall is in 10L), and no one wants to climb a pair of stairs after surviving a local train to Bandra or Kurla.”