With Mumbai’s Metro network rapidly expanding, the daily commute has become faster and more efficient—for those on the train, at least. But for thousands stepping out of sleek new stations into traffic chaos, the final leg of the journey remains a huge hassle. Responding to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s directive to boost self-revenue, the BEST undertaking is now mulling “Metro Circuit” bus routes to link stations with key residential and commercial areas routes.

Datta Samant Chowk bus stop near Sakinaka Metro station lacks proper last-mile planning. Pic/Dweep Bane

BEST has initiated a study to finalise these last-mile routes, even as a shortage of buses hampers immediate rollout. Currently, 43 Metro stations across three lines are functional, but connectivity drops drastically once passengers disembark—forcing many to walk long distances, wait endlessly for overcrowded buses, or pay steep auto fares. To understand just how broken the last-mile connection is, mid-day visited five busy Metro stations—Santacruz, Aarey JVLR, Dahanukarwadi, Gundavli, and Sakinaka—to trace the commuter struggle and spotlight the urgent need for dedicated feeder services.