25% rail users take to Metro,8% shift from cars: IIT study

Time of India

06-05-2025

Mumbai: An IIT study conducted three months after the launch of Metro Lines 2A and 7 revealed improvements in commute times, rider satisfaction, and air quality, although the shift from private cars remains minimal.The two corridors, which began operations in Jan 2023, span a total of 35km and cater to commuters in the western suburbs. According to the study, 81% of riders save nearly 26 minutes each way on their daily commutes, which adds up to over 50 minutes saved per day. But only a marginal 2.6% of respondents indicated they used the extra time for additional trips.One of the findings highlights changes in morning routines. Commuters now leave home later, with the average departure time shifting from 8:37am to 8:55am, offering some relief during peak hour. Nearly 88% of Metro users live within one kilometre of a station, and 90% work within the same range, showing once more the importance of dense development around transit hubs. Walking continues to dominate as the primary mode of access and egress, with more than 60% of riders walking to and from Metro stations. The average walking time at the start of a trip is 8.5 minutes, dropping to 7.7 minutes at the end of the journey.But while Metro Lines 2A and 7 have attracted commuters from public transport and two-wheelers, they have made little impact on private car usage. The study found that 26.4% of current Metro riders previously used suburban trains, 24.1% came from BEST buses, 19.4% shifted from two-wheelers, and 17.2% switched from autorickshaws. But only 7.8% of users abandoned their cars for the Metro, pointing to a lack of park-and-ride facilities and seamless last-mile connectivity for car users.The study was conducted by Abhijna M, a PhD Scholar, and professors K V Krishna Rao and Vedagiri Perumal, all from the department of civil engineering at IIT-Bombay. It's title is: How New Metro Lines Shape a Sustainable Future: A Before-After Study of Travel Behaviour, Perceptions, and Emissions in MMR.The study also shows a marked improvement in commuter perception of service quality. While 42% of riders rated their earlier commute as "fair," the post-Metro period saw 63.5% rating the new service as "very good."