NMMT Cuts Fares by Over 50%, Boosting Ridership on Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Routes via Atal Setu

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has recently slashed fares for bus routes operating between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai via the Atal Setu bridge, making travel significantly more affordable. With fare reductions exceeding 50%, a surge in passenger numbers has been observed on these routes, highlighting the impact of the revised pricing.

For instance, the fare for the Kharghar-Mantralaya route has dropped from ₹270 to ₹120, while the Nerul-Mantralaya route now costs ₹105, down from ₹230.

“The fare reduction has led to an immediate boost in ridership. On Route 116, the average daily passenger count has risen from 20 to 60, while Route 117 now sees around 70 passengers, up from 20–25,” an NMMT official reported.

NMMT introduced these two bus routes between Navi Mumbai and Mantralaya in September of the previous year. However, high fares initially deterred commuters, prompting a reevaluation of pricing strategies to make the service more appealing.

The Atal Setu bridge, India’s largest sea link, opened to the public in January, offering a swift, 20-minute commute between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, bypassing usual traffic snarls. The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link further connects Mumbai to Uran, Panvel, and onward to Goa and Pune.

NMMT launched its air-conditioned bus services over the Atal Setu during the Ganeshotsav festival last September, introducing Routes 116 and 117. These routes operate from Monday to Saturday, with approximate travel times of 100 and 115 minutes, respectively.

Route 116 begins at Nerul Bus Depot (East) and travels to Mantralaya via Ulwe, including stops at Kharkopar railway station. Route 117 starts at Jal Vayu Vihar in Kharghar and heads to Mantralaya via Panvel, covering key stops such as Kharghar, Utsav Chowk, Panvel Bus Terminus, and Palaspe Phata.

Previously, the high fares resulted in low occupancy, making the service unsustainable. “The revised fares have made this option much more appealing,” said Shahjehan Chougule, a regular commuter from Taloja. “Earlier, many of us chose crowded trains for their affordability despite the longer travel time.”

For Route 116, the bus departs from Nerul at 7:55 am and returns from Mantralaya at 6:25 pm, with additional midday trips between Mantralaya and Kharkopar railway station.

Route 117 begins its journey from Kharghar at 7:40 am, with the return trip from Mantralaya to Kharghar scheduled for 6:15 pm.