Mumbai Metro

I got to travel the Metro for the first time on 28th Jan, 2016 for the Pillar Promise Workshop at Hotel Waterstone. Along with Shraddha Patil, I got down at Andheri and walked through the red wide bridge of Andheri station and then through the zig zag sky walk heading to the Andheri Metro station. There is a ticket counter at the entrance; with different queues for single and return tickets. We took a single ticket for Marol Naka since we had to go to office post the workshop. We got the coins and were set to go. There is a security checking first. We put in our bags through the scanner. The coin (ticket) had to be scanned in order to enter the station. Then we took the escalator. Here came one of my fears, getting on the moving stairs. Never did I climbed one while our group lunches at Phoenix mall; and if at all I did this activity then was just with Namrata Nimje holding one hand. Now what to do? I decided to overcome this fear today, what worst could happen? I would fall. I did try and was successful; it was scary for a moment. We were on the platform now, waiting for a Metro to arrive from Azad Nagar. The metro is four coached AC train having the automatic door opening and closing facility. Now the Mumbaikars are so used to hanging on the doors, it would have been a bit difficult to adjust. But until the doors are closed, the train won't move ahead. Half of the last compartment is reserved for ladies; there's a chain partition. There are long seats adjacent to the windows on both sides of the compartment with a lot of space in between to stand. The Metro started moving ahead. It was a nice feeling to walk seamlessly over the Andheri roads full of autos and BEST buses, etc. The announcement goes on for the next station: Magic bricks Western Express Highway. Doors will open to the left. Each station name had some sponsored prefix. The doors opened, passengers alighted and passengers boarded and the doors were closed. Again moving seamlessly to next station, J.B.Nagar Chakala and then Airport Road; finally we reached Marol Naka. We left the Metro and walked down the stairs. While exiting from the station, we had to put the coin in the box and we were out. The Metro travel continued further for we had many workshops which made me reach the above mentioned stations. The best thing about a Metro for a Mumbaikar is fastest route over the roads, without traffic tension, with AC and high frequency trips at affordable rates. It also made the Western line and Central line little closer providing and alternative over the Dadar station route.