No cars at BKC every Friday from June 12: What it means for over 2,000 Mumbai workers

Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is set to launch a new initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable travel. Under the plan, every Friday will be celebrated as ‘Public Transport Day’, with nearly 200,000 professionals encouraged to travel by train, metro and bus instead of using private vehicles. The program – the first of its kind aimed specifically at a major corporate district – will begin this week, June 12.

Why was Friday chosen?

This initiative has received in-principle support from around 90 companies and organizations based in BKC. It is being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in collaboration with BEST, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), traffic police, autorickshaw unions and WRI India, Hindustan Times (HT) reported.

Authorities said Fridays were chosen because work schedules are generally more flexible toward the end of the week, making employees more willing to try alternative travel options. Mondays are avoided because commuters are usually under more pressure to get to work on time.

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MMRDA has also directed its nearly 2,000 employees and contract employees to participate in the scheme.

How long will the trial period last?

Officials said the initiative will be closely monitored for at least three to four months. During this period, the authorities will review the challenges on a weekly basis and implement changes if necessary.

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The move follows surveys and consultations with stakeholders that have taken place in recent weeks. The findings showed that 82% of commuters would consider using public transport if services became more reliable, convenient and better connected.

What do commuters fear most?

According to the feedback gathered during the discussions, the biggest issues are about the last mile connection from the Aqua Line metro stations, pedestrian facilities at BKC, lack of shade for pedestrians and the need for more frequent BEST bus services.

“Getting out of the metro station is quick, but finding a shared car or bus to cover the remaining one to two kilometers inside BKC is a daily nightmare,” an executive at a top financial firm told HT.

“If last mile connectivity is not seamless, people will naturally go back to their cars. There is a need for a robust bus service with a frequency of 5-10 minutes from the current 20-25 minutes.”

Why do so many commuters still use private vehicles?

According to MMRDA officials, poor last-mile connectivity remains a major hurdle.

“There are last-mile connectivity issues in BKC, so 52% of people coming to BKC still rely on private cars, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Moreover, more than half of the 200,000 employees in BKC spend more than two hours commuting daily. We will also discuss with the auto-rickshaw unions to ensure that this MHT plan.

Studies presented during the discussions showed that 52% of commuters continue to depend on private vehicles, taxis and autorickshaws, while only 25% use public transport for their daily journeys.

Experts have identified poor last-mile connections from Aqua Line stations and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure as the main reasons for low public transport use.

What improvements are planned?

Authorities and partner agencies work with companies in BKC to identify both immediate and long-term solutions.

Among the proposals under consideration are dedicated turning facilities for BEST buses at major junctions to improve service efficiency. Officials are also looking into whether internal roads within large office complexes can be opened to pedestrians to shorten walking routes.

Urban mobility experts said improving walkability will be critical to the success of the initiative. They noted that BKC’s wide concrete spaces and limited tree cover make walking uncomfortable, especially during hot weather.

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Planners proposed creating shaded pedestrian corridors, increasing tree cover and improving connections between subway stations and office buildings.

“There are long-term plans such as all-weather pedestrian paths where we can have shade with plants covering the roofs, fog blowers and regular sidewalks, among other things,” the city planner said.

How will employees be motivated to participate?

Officials and company representatives also discussed incentives to encourage behavioral change. Proposals include reward systems for regular users of public transport, recognition programs and reimbursement of travel expenses.

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“Meaningful change starts with each one of us. My entire team and I have pledged to support this initiative by using public transport on Fridays. Even a modest shift can go a long way in reducing traffic congestion and reducing emissions,” Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, told HT.

Vedant Mhatre, program manager of the Walking Project, welcomed the initiative and said it could help improve both public transport use and walking conditions in BKC.

“The initiative recognizes the need to shift more journeys to public transport. We hope it will also serve as an opportunity to implement simple but effective improvements to BKC’s pedestrian infrastructure, including safer intersections, better pedestrian corridors, better screening and better pedestrian comfort. These measures can significantly improve the experience of walking and using public transport. We are delighted that MMRDA has taken the lead on this initiative and are happy to identify suggestions for improving the Walks it project.”