Mumbai Metro Lines 9 & 2B: Both Lines Saw a Huge Difference in Ridership in the First Week of Operation

Mumbai has recently had two new metro lines in operation, but both have seen very different passenger numbers in their first week. Mumbai Metro Line 9 recorded a much higher number of commuters compared to Mumbai Metro Line 2B.

Mumbai Metro Line 9

According to data collected till Tuesday, Line 9 had an average of about 23,096 passengers per day across its four stations. As Line 9 is an extension of Line 7, it was expected to attract between 50,000 and 1 lakh passengers every day. Officials believe the number of commuters will rise once offices and schools reopen fully and the monsoon season begins.

On the other hand, Line 2B, which has five stations, saw only around 3,992 daily passengers, indicating a clear difference in how the two lines are being used.

Reason behind Mumbai Metro's Low Ridership

Officials explained that one reason for the lower numbers is the ongoing summer vacation period. During this time, fewer people travel for work or school, which reduces overall metro usage. This trend has also been seen on older metro lines. For example, Mumbai Metro Line 2A had an average of 1.53 lakh daily passengers, while Mumbai Metro Line 7 recorded about 1.12 lakh. In March, both lines together had over 3 lakh passengers on weekdays, which is much higher than the current numbers.

Growing Use of Digital Ticketing

Another noticeable trend is the growing use of digital ticketing. In the first week, only about 35% of passengers used paper tickets. During the same period, around 3,844 National Common Mobility Cards were sold, indicating that more people are shifting towards cashless and convenient travel options.