Mumbai: The monorail from Jacob Circle (Mahalaxmi Saath Rasta) to Chembur has witnessed 30 per cent increase in its ridership on Tuesday claimed Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials. The surge was reported as the monorail route passes from several low lying areas of Chembur, Wadala, Bharni Naka in Antop Hill to name a few which have been flooded due to unprecedented rainfall. The officials believe that as the local services on all three railway lines (main, harbour and western) remain disrupted and several parts of the city are waterlogged thereby affecting the traffic massively, people commuted in elevated mono and metro corridors as a safer option. As per the data upto 12 pm on Tuesday Rs 84,810 revenue was earned and ridership recorded was 3,628. For example if this ridership figures are multiplied with Rs 40 each (maximum fare price) the earnings crossed Rs one lakh.
On the contrary, the Metro One corridor running between Ghatkopar and Versova witnessed less footfalls as compared to the usual week days. According to Metro One sources due to pre-warning from weather forecast and Mumbai Police about heavy rainfall, the office goers stayed at home as a preventive measure. Also as the feeder (train) services remained completely closed for the day, the metro also experienced lesser crowd.
