Now, travel from Panvel to Mantralaya in just an hour

The commute from Panvel to South Mumbai just got better. From September 23, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) started operating their air-conditioned bus services from Panvel to Mantralaya via the Eastern Freeway.

Bridging the distance: MSRTC's air-conditioned bus services from Panvel to Mantralaya have been operational since Monday.u00a0Pic/Datta Kumbhar

The decision to start these bus services was taken after local businessmen commuters and office-goers got together to convince the transport officials the need for regular bus services to and from Mantralaya and Panvel. This move by the MSRTC will not only help cut down travel time but also ensure commuter convenience.

According to MSRTC officials, the new service will cover the distance of 52 km in one hour and five minutes via Kamothe, Konkan Bhavan, Nerul and Vashi highway. The fare will be Rs 97 per head from Panvel to Mantralaya.

It takes not less than 90-120 minutes to get to Mantralaya from Panvel, owing to the heavy traffic congestion on the southbound Dr Ambedkar Road during peak hours. The northbound stretch of Dr Ambedkar Road is as crowded as its southern counterpart. Commuters travelling from Navi Mumbai and Panvel prefer to travel by crowded trains than get stuck for hours in traffic.

Attempting to solve commuter's woes, MSRTC's air-conditioned bus services will encourage people to use these bus services.u00a0The AC bus services will be operational five days a week and will be able to seat 39 people at a time. The bus will depart from Panvel at 8:30 am and is expected to reach Mantralaya by 9.35 am. Similarly, a bus will leave from Panvel at 4:30 pm and will arrive at Mantralaya at 5:35 pm.

For the return journey, the same buses will leave from Mantralaya at 10 am and 5.45 pm and will reach Panvel by 11.05 am and 6.50 pm respectively. The 65 km distance between Panvel and Mantralaya will be covered in just 65 minutes. u00a0

Ticket prices
Panvel to Mantralaya: Rs 97 Kharghar to Mantralaya: Rs 86
Konkan Bhavan to Mantralaya: Rs 86
Nerul to Mantralaya: Rs 76 Vashi to Mantralaya: Rs 60u00a0