Mumbai: Getting to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from western suburbs is set to become cheaper and easier with the airport operator announcing a slew of cheaper ground transport solutions on Monday. Among them are MSRTC electric buses starting at Rs 170 and a free hourly shuttle between Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and Mumbai’s main airport at Sahar-Parle.A complimentary hourly shuttle operated by Cityflo, Aarya and Chalo will connect NMIA directly with Mumbai airport. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will start e-Shivai electric bus services from NMIA on Oct 7, connecting the airport with Dadar, Borivli and Pune. Fares will be Rs 170 to Dadar East, Rs 210 to Borivli and Rs 450 to Pune, said a press release by Adani Airport Holding Ltd (AAHL) late on Monday. Children below 12 and women travelling with a National Common Mobility Card will be eligible for half-fare.The Dadar service will operate via Sion and Atal Setu, while the Borivli route will connect NMIA with Mumbai terminal 1, Bandra and Atal Setu. Services to Thane and Nashik are planned by mid-Nov.Private bus connectivity is also being expanded. BEST’s Chalo Bus initiative, in partnership with a private operator, currently operates 21 daily services linking NMIA with Marol in Andheri East, Bandra, Dadar and World Trade Centre in Colaba. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) operates seven dedicated airport routes connecting terminal 1 with Kharkopar, Targhar, Belapur, Nerul, Panvel, Khandeshwar and the Airport Project Office, the statement said.No transport options announced for eastern suburbs (apart from Sion) and Thane, though. On the taxi front, Bharat Taxi will begin operations on Oct 10 with a fleet of up to 40 vehicles. Uber Go, Uber Premier and Uber Auto will also be available, as usual.
