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City Guide - Mumbai - Getting Around | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Getting Around Public Transport There is no underground system in Mumbai but the city is well served by its suburban rail network (see the Rail section). There are also a large number of bus routes run by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport), which provide transport within the city and suburbs (tel: (022) 414 3611, 24-hour enquiries). The buses are extremely cheap (the average city-centre fare is Rs7) but it is difficult to determine where the buses go since the route maps (available at newspaper stands) are virtually indecipherable. They are often very crowded and seats hard to come by. A small minority of the buses are fitted with air conditioning. Taxis Mumbai has a huge number of delightfully dated taxis - in a black and yellow livery - plying for trade on the streets. For the foreign visitor, they represent the best way of getting around the city, especially as auto-rickshaws - a staple form of urban travel elsewhere in India - are banned from the centre of Mumbai. Taxis can be hailed on the street and drivers are reasonably knowledgeable of the geography of the city. All taxis have a meter; these are, however, out of date, so each driver carries a conversion table from which to compute the correct fare. It is important to ensure that the meter is zeroed before starting the journey. Fares are cheap; a journey in the centre of the city will rarely cost more than Rs75. Taxis can also be hired for the day; this represents a good way of seeing the city and should not cost more than Rs1000 for a full day. For those who prefer a higher degree of luxury, Cool Cabs (tel: (022) 824 6216) provide more modern, air-conditioned taxis, which can only be ordered by telephone. These are metered, costing about Rs30 more per journey than ordinary taxis. Limousines Autoriders Rent-a-car (tel: (022) 496 1714) will provide chauffeur-driven cars and offer a wide range of air-conditioned vehicles. Rates start at Rs1650 for four hours. Driving in Mumbai Driving in Mumbai is not recommended for a visitor. The streets are chaotic and poorly signposted. There is a huge amount of traffic and road users range from a man driving a single cow to vast trucks. There do not seem to be any rules - although red lights are respected - and the horn is the most commonly used aid to driving. The road surface in many streets is in a poor state of repair: large potholes are commonplace. Would-be drivers should be warned that many Indian motorists regard the use of lights at night as wholly optional; this is potentially very dangerous. Car Hire Drivers in India must be over 18 years, although many car hire companies will insist on a higher minimum age. Car hirers will need to have an International Driving Permit and insurance must be arranged at the time of hiring. Avis (tel: (022) 285 7518) will provide a self-drive hire car for Rs2500 per day. Europcar (tel: (022) 645 2796) will provide a chauffeur-driven hire car. A driver is recommended. Bicycle & Scooter Hire Scooters and bicycles are a popular form of transport in the crowded streets of Mumbai. They can be hired from Premjis, Lamington Road. There does not seem to be any requirement to wear a helmet. There are various places - usually small - that hire bicycles cheaply and anyone keen to do so should enquire at a garage. |
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