Regd. No. MH/MR/South-160/2012-14 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in
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NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY, BUT FOR THE MOMENT, THE MONORAIL IS DEFINITELY ANOTHER HOLIDAY OPTION, LIKE A JOYRIDE AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK
By Shwetha Kannan
I
t has been a month since the much-talked about MMRDA project, the monorail, has been inaugurated and thrown open for the public to travel. Up to March, 1, 4,59,871 people have used it and it
MUMBHAI Vikas Sabnis
Which party will get absolute majority in the coming polls? Sorry! Ask me any other question except this one.
A way to spend a holiday:
“It was my off today and I had some work in Chembur, so thought of hopping on to the Monorail after that. I just wanted to experience the ride that so many are talking about. I am travelling in it for the first time,” said an excited Meena Ganvil, a railway Meena employee who lives in Panvel and did not Ganvil mind travelling all the way up to Wadala from Chembur and then going to the suburban Chembur station to ultimately make her way to Panvel using the local train. In other words, this was the fun bit of her commute but she did not see herself using it with any serious intent. is an experience that most of them have enjoyed. The main issue, however, is how many of them consider it to be a serious mode of transport? And how many put it in the 'toy train' category? To try and get an answer to this question, the ADC got on board the monorail on a weekday and spoke to people travelling in it. What we found out is that the project which has cost the MMRDA Rs.3,000 crore or half a billion dollars, is yet to be taken se-
riously as a mode of transport by Mumbaikars. As of now, for a majority of them, it is nothing more than a joyride.
Family Picnic Spot: The monorail has become a place for families to spend a holiday. The ADC spotted two families on the section having a good time. It was just an opportunity to spend quality time together! The Baguls Continued on pg 2 «
To revisit the fantasies of your childhood, visit page 32.