- By Soumyaroop Mukherjee
- Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Mumbai Metro Update: In a bid to decongest the Mumbai Metro Blue Line 1, which continues to buckle during peak hours, transport experts have proposed a simple yet cost-effective alternative, a dedicated bus lane running along the 4.8 Km Andheri East-Saki Naka corridor.
The report of a dedicated bus corridor comes at a time when there has been news about the expansion of the Mumbai Metro Line 1 trains configuration from four to six coaches.
A detailed project report (DPR) was compiled by Researcher Shubham Padave for Transport Economist Ashok Datar, which proposed a red-painted, CCTV-monitored bus-only lane on the stretch. “Metro 1 suffers because it cannot expand from four to six coaches despite carrying more ridership than 2A, 7, and the Aqua Line combined," Datar said, quoted Mid Day, detailing the current problems that surround this stretch.
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Why Was This Corridor Chosen?
This particular route has been chosen as a dedicated bus route because:
- According to live bus tracking from the Chalo App on November 24, the density of bus presence at the Saki Naka Junction and Chakala is even during the afternoon.
- Moreover, the road along this route has three lanes on each side, which makes it geometrically feasible to dedicate the extreme left lane to be dedicated to buses and emergency vehicles.
- Lastly, the route contains some of the major hubs with high passenger footfall, Andheri railway station, the airport, corporate zones, Marol Fire Station and several Metro stations, thereby making it one of the busiest east-west connectors.
How Would It Help The Commuters?
Currently, commuters require 35 to 40 minutes during rush hour to travel on this lane. However, a separate and dedicated bus route could cut down the time to 15-20 minutes. The plan mirrors international practices where quick, paint-based transit lanes have been deployed as inexpensive mobility boosters. With Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport's expanding AC fleet and robust digital tracking already in place, experts say this corridor is ideal for a pilot.