Overview
Mumbai runs on public transport. The city's metro, suburban rail, buses and ferries together move millions of people every day, and as a visitor you can use all of them with a little preparation. The Mumbai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region in Maharashtra; it is designed to ease traffic congestion and to take pressure off the heavily used Mumbai Suburban Railway. It is being built in three phases over 15 years, with overall completion expected in October 2026, and it is already the second longest operational metro network in India, with an operational length of 101.43 km (63.03 mi) as of April 2026.
Riding end to end is straightforward. Plan your route with an app such as m-Indicator, which carries bus and train route information, or the BEST Chalo app and Google Maps. Buy a ticket or top up a smartcard at the station, pass through the fare gates, board the train, and keep your ticket until you exit at your destination station, where ticket checkers may inspect it. If you are travelling on the suburban railway, buy your ticket at a dedicated counter outside the station or through the UTS mobile app, and avoid third-party sellers because of the risk of counterfeit tickets.
The network
Mumbai's public transport is a patchwork of systems, each with its own lines, names and quirks. Here is what you will encounter.
- Mumbai Metro (rapid transit): The metro is operated and built by several bodies. Blue Line 1 is operated by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure (74%), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (26%) and formerly RATP Dev Transdev Asia (5%). Lines 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and their extensions are built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and operated by the Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited (MMMOCL). The completely underground Aqua Line 3 and Green Line 11 are built by Mumbai Metro Railway Corporation Ltd (MMRC). The first line began operations on 8 June 2014; corridors 2A and 7 were inaugurated on 2 April 2022; the 12 km (7.5 mi) underground BKC to Aarey Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road section of Aqua Line 3 opened on 5 October 2024, with a further extension to Cuffe Parade inaugurated on 9 October 2025; and the first phase of Line 9 and Line 2B was inaugurated on 7 April 2026. Eight other metro lines are under construction. When completed, the core system is planned to comprise sixteen high-capacity lines spanning more than 523 kilometres (325.0 mi), about 25% underground and the rest elevated, with 350 stations.
- Mumbai Suburban Railway ("Locals"): The suburban network is the icon and vital artery of the city, carrying a staggering 9 million people daily. There are three primary lines in the city centre. The Western Line runs from Churchgate to Dahanu Road via the Western Suburbs, providing north–south connectivity. The Central Line runs from Mumbai CSMT to Ambernath via the Central Suburbs and Thane, with some services continuing to Karjat, Khopoli and Kasara. The Harbour Line shares a common stretch between CSMT and Vadala Road, then splits: the main spur runs to the Eastern Suburbs and Navi Mumbai up to Panvel, while the other spur runs up to Mahim on the Western Line and parallel to Andheri. Dadar is the interchange between the Western and Central lines; Kurla is the interchange between the Harbour Line and the Central Main Line; Bandra and Andheri are the Harbour Line's interchanges with the Western Line.
- Monorail: A newer system serving only the suburbs, running perpendicular to the railway lines and covering the Andheri and Juhu areas. It is air-conditioned.
- BEST buses: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus system supplements the suburban railway and provides feeder services to station-going passengers so they can complete their journeys. Double-decker buses operate on some routes.
- Ferries: Ferry services operate as part of the network. Thane Creek is busy with ferries to central Mumbai from cities on the southern and eastern side of the creek, such as Alibag, and ferries from Ferry Wharf give cheap access to nearby islands and beaches, including Elephanta. There are no scheduled international ferries, though cruise ships dock regularly.
- Taxis and auto-rickshaws: Black-and-yellow "kaali-peeli" taxis and auto-rickshaws fill the gaps. Auto-rickshaws are not permitted in the old, southern part of the city, and by law carry a maximum of three passengers.
Tickets & fares
Fares below are approximate and change, so check current prices when you arrive.
- Suburban rail: Ticket prices start from about ₹5 in second class (Class II) and ₹50 in first class (Class I). Other sources put ordinary fares at roughly ₹10 up to ₹30–35 for the far edge of the city. Carriages are largely identical, but paying the roughly ten-times-higher first-class fare is worthwhile because second class gets packed like sardines at anything close to rush hour. Buy coupon booklets to avoid long queues; coupon booklet punching machines are available at all stations. A railway smart card works like a refillable gift card, letting you maintain a balance and top up once it runs low. Tickets can also be bought at station counters or via the UTS mobile app.
- Metro: The metro is one of the cheaper options for shorter trips, alongside autos and taxis.
- Monorail: The monorail uses a token system: single or return tokens, or a monthly pass. There are no weekend or tourist passes. Fares run about ₹20–40 per single journey.
- BEST buses: Fares are typically under ₹20, ranging about ₹10–30 depending on distance. The conductor issues your ticket and change, and you can ask to be told when your stop comes up.
- Taxis and autos: Always insist on the meter. As of 2016, taxis had a minimum fare of ₹22 plus ₹1.5 per additional kilometre, and auto-rickshaws had a base fare of ₹18. Ask your hotel reception for an estimated fare beforehand and follow the route on Google Maps to avoid being taken the long way round.
From the airport
Mumbai's main gateway is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), one of Asia's busiest airports and a principal international gateway to India. Domestic flights (except Air India) use Terminal 1, while international flights and Air India use Terminal 2. A newer airport, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), opened in 2025; it is a good alternative to Terminal 1 for domestic flights, with limited international flights that will increase as it grows, but it sits quite far from central Mumbai and primarily serves the suburban areas.
To reach the centre, use the public transport network: suburban "local" trains, the metro, BEST buses, and taxis or app-based cabs for the final leg. Plan your route with m-Indicator, the BEST Chalo app or Google Maps before you leave the terminal, and note that the metro's Aqua Line 3 was extended to serve the airport area as part of the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor.
Etiquette & customs
- Queues: There will always be queues at ticket windows, so buy coupon booklets or a smartcard to skip them.
- Rush hour: Avoid peak hours, especially if you are an inexperienced traveller. Second-class carriages and fast trains are the most crowded; slow trains are less crowded than fast trains.
- Doors and safety: Non-air-conditioned trains often run with the doors open. Do not be a statistic: over 2,000 people are killed on Mumbai's rails every year, so stay clear of open doorways.
- Tickets: Keep your ticket until you exit your destination station, as ticket checkers may inspect it.
- On the bus: The route number and destination appear on the front in Marathi, with the English version on the left side near the back door. The conductor issues tickets and change, and you can ask to be announced at your stop.
- Taxis and autos: Insist on the meter, agree an estimate with your hotel beforehand, and track the route on your phone. For late-night travel, app-based radio cabs such as Ola and Uber are recommended for security.
Survival terms
- Subway/metro — मेट्रो (metro)
- Ticket — तिकीट (tikit)
- Line — मार्ग (maarg)
- Entrance — प्रवेश (pravesh)
- Exit — निर्गम (nirgam)
- Transfer — बदल (badal)
- Single fare — एकेरी भाडे (ekeri bhaade)
- Day pass — दिवस पास (diwas paas)
Download the m-Indicator app before you land, load a smartcard or coupon booklet early, and always keep your ticket until you walk out of your destination station.