GETTING TO AND AROUND MUMBAI

Arriving by Air

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the second busiest airport in India, after New Delhi's. There are two main terminals – Terminal 1 at Santacruz only operates domestic flights, and Terminal 2 at Sahar caters to domestic as well as international flights. Domestic carriers operating in Mumbai include Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet. There are direct international flights to the city from major hubs such as London, New York, Toronto and Sydney. Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways are some international flight carriers.

The city centre is 21 km (13 miles) from the airport. Metered taxis with fares that vary based on distance, as well as pre-paid taxi kiosks, are present outside terminals. You could also travel by the suburban railway, but note that trains are extremely crowded and can be inconvenient with luggage. Vile Parle (East) is the station closest to Santacruz; the nearest station to Sahar is Andheri (East).

Arriving by Train

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), which serves as the headquarters for the central railway is Mumbai's main station. It is linked to all major cities in the country and operates suburban trains in addition to long-distance trains. Popular locations from where trains run on a weekly basis are Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Goa. Mumbai Central (MMCT), another major station for express and local trains also functions as the terminal station for long-distance trains such as the Mumbai Rajdhani Express. The other important stations in the city are Bandra Terminus and Kalyan Junction.

Tickets can be booked at reservation counters at the stations. For immediate travel and waitlisted tickets, there are counters along station entrances. You can also book online via the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Check this or the Indian Railways website for detailed train schedules, or phone the Railway Enquiry number for any questions. Stations are a hotspot for theft so keep an eye on your bags. All stations have kiosks for pre-paid auto-rickshaw as well as taxi services.

Arriving by Road

Several National Highways run through the city. NH 48 links the city to northern and southern India. NH 60 comes in from the north, and NH 66 from the south. NH 61 and 65 connect to the eastern parts of the country. Pune, which is situated about 150 km (92.5 miles) away, is linked via NH 48.

Bus and coach travel is often cheaper than private taxis. The city's main bus stand is the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Mumbai Central. There are also stands in Dadar, Parel and Borivali. Many private companies also run coaches to and from Mumbai. Tickets can be booked at bus stands or online on websites such as redBus.

Travelling by Suburban Train and Metro

Known as the "local", the suburban railway is a common means of travel for residents. The Western Line, Central Main Line and Harbour Line are the three routes. Western runs from Churchgate to Virar, while the other lines ply from the CSMT station – the Central Line links to Kalyan, while the Harbour Line travels to Wadala. The train coaches are divided into First and Second class. It is better to travel by first class to avoid rush, though it is costlier. The first carriage is reserved for women. Booths for tickets are found at all stations, along with ticket vending machines. Buy for either a single-trip, or a return-trip, and ensure you travel with it (if you are found without a valid ticket, you could be fined). Rechargeable Smart Cards are available too. You can also buy a ticket on the UTSOnMobile app.

The Mumbai Metro Line - 1 (MML - 1) is a 11-km- ( 7-mile-) long track that runs along Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar, with 12 stops. Use the metro to avoid traffic and save time.

Travelling by Bus

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has an extensive bus network. The service runs single- as well as double-decker buses (to be phased out by 2023). All buses have numbers with matching destinations; a list is available online.

Travelling by Taxi and Auto-Rickshaw

It is easy to hail a black-and-yellow taxi or an auto-rickshaw (auto) from their stands or by flagging them down on the street. Both run by the meter, and prices vary with distance.

Auto fares are ₹15 for the first kilometre, then ₹12 per kilometre, with a surge between 10pm and 5am. Note: autos do not operate beyond Sion and Bandra.

Ola and Uber taxis can be booked through apps. There are also many radio cab services, such as Meru Cabs, TabCab, and EasyCabs, that can be booked online or on phone. Your hotel should also be able to book a cab for you.

Travelling by Ferry

Ferries are the fastest way to reach offshore sights. Marve Beach is connected to Manori (5am to midnight) as well as to Water Kingdom (9am to 8:30pm). Ferries for Mandwa and the Elephanta Caves start at 6am from the Gateway of India. Boats to Madh Island ferry between 5am and 1:30pm from Versova. Services to Panju Island, Arnala Fort and Bhaucha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf) are also available.

Travelling on Foot

Some pockets of the city, mainly in the south are good for exploring on foot. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially on busy roads or street markets. Honking is very common so don’t be alarmed. Look to either side of the road before crossing as people may drive on the wrong side. Major roads have pedestrian pathways so make sure to use them.

DIRECTORY

ARRIVING BY AIR

Air Canada

prac_info 1 800 102 8182

prac_info aircanada.com

Air India

prac_info 1 800 180 1407

prac_info airindia.in

British Airways

prac_info 012 4412 0715

prac_info britishairways.com

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

prac_info 022 6685 1010

prac_info csia.in

Etihad Airways

prac_info 1 800 209 0808

prac_info etihad.com

GoAir

prac_info 092 2322 2111

prac_info goair.in

IndiGo

prac_info 092 1278 3838

prac_info goindigo.in

Lufthansa

prac_info 1 800 102 5838

prac_info lufthansa.com

Qatar Airways

prac_info 079 3061 6000

prac_info qatarairways.com

SpiceJet

prac_info 098 7180 3333

prac_info spicejet.com

Virgin Atlantic

prac_info 0344 209 7770

prac_info virginatlantic.com

Vistara

prac_info 092 8922 8888

prac_info airvistara.com

ARRIVING BY TRAIN

Indian Railways

prac_info indianrail.gov.in

IRCTC

prac_info irctc.co.in

Railway Enquiry

prac_info 139

ARRIVING BY ROAD

MSRTC Mumbai Central

prac_info 022 2307 2371

prac_info msrtc.maharashtra.gov.in

redBus

prac_info 080-39412345

prac_info redbus.in

TRAVELLING BY SUBURBAN TRAIN AND METRO

MML - 1

prac_info mmrcl.com

UTSOnMobile

prac_info utsonmobile.indianrail.gov.in

TRAVELLING BY BUS

BEST

prac_info 022 2285 6262

prac_info bestundertaking.com

TRAVELLING BY TAXI AND AUTO-RICKSHAW

EasyCabs

prac_info easycabs.com

Meru Cabs

prac_info meru.in

Ola

prac_info olacabs.com

TabCab

prac_info tabcab.in

Uber

prac_info uber.com

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