Mumbai Metro - The culmination of a six-year-wait, fraught with tiny glitches

It was a wait of over six years by Mumbaikars for an hour long ride on 11.4 km long Mumbai Metro between Versova and Ghatkopar. Construction on the metro project had begun back in 2008, but all that was forgotten once they got an opportunity to get into the metro station and, eventually, metro trains.

Sunil Appa Khade, a Nallasopara resident, tried his best to become the first passenger to buy a token and commute in the metro by reaching Versova Metro Station at midnight. The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited officials soon appreciated his gesture and recognised him as the first passenger.

Meanwhile, some of the passengers downplayed the delay due to a technical glitch and enjoyed their air-conditioned ride, whereas a few who are unfamiliar with security check prior to boarding the rakes, were upset at waiting in long queues to get frisked.

"It is worth appreciating that the metro has finally rolled out, businessmen like me will save our time to move around. But if the trains ply the way it happened today (late), it will deter the crowed," said Mohammed Salim Ansari, a resident of Saki Naka. who came with his two children.

Other passengers like Ghulam Nabi Shaikh and Sanjay Bhanushali opined that the fares of the system should not be increased as planned by the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited. Shaikh added that if at all it is required to hike ticket rates, it should be affordable enough and not Rs40, which is expensive for an individual from the middle class.

Whereas there were teething troubles with the Automatic Fare Collection gate at Andheri station, commuters bypassing metal detectors, delay in getting tokens at Ghatkopar station, etc.