| Mumbai
formerly known as Bombay is the capital of the Indian
state of Maharashtra and is the most populous Indian
city. Mumbai is located on an island off the west coast
of India. With an estimated metropolitan population
in 2005 of 17 million[1] (#wp-endnote_population), it
is the sixth largest metropolitan area in the world,
and clustered along with its outlying satellite townships
forms one of the world's most populous conurbations.
The city, which has a deep natural harbour, is also
the largest port in western India, handling over half
of India's passenger traffic.
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, and houses
important financial institutions such as the Reserve
Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the corporate
headquarters of many Indian companies. Owing to the
immense business opportunities available in Mumbai and
the relatively high standard of living, it has attracted
migrants from all over India and South Asia, making
the city a potpourri of various communities and cultures.
Within Mumbai is located Bollywood, the epicentre of
the country's Hindi film and television industry, producing
the world's highest number of films annually. Mumbai
is also one of the rare cities to accommodate a National
Park within its municipal limits.
Most of the city inhabitants rely on public transport
to travel to and from their workplace, due to the paucity
of parking spaces and traffic bottlenecks. The backbone
of the city's transport, the Mumbai Suburban Railway,
is composed of three rail networks and runs along the
length of the city. The Western Railway runs along the
western region of the city, while the Central Railway
covers most of the central and northeast parts of the
metropolis. Both these lines extend to the exurbs of
the city, each covering a total one-way length of around
125 km. The Harbour Line is a sub-division of the Central
Railway, covering a distance of 54 km along the extreme
east areas of the city region near the docks and extending
into New Bombay.
Public buses run by the BEST (an autonomous body under
the BMC) cover almost all parts of the metropolis as
well as parts of New Bombay and Thane. Buses are used
for short to medium distance commuting as train fares
are more economical for long distances. The BEST fleet
consists of single-decker, double-decker, air-conditioned
and vestibule buses. The BEST also operates ferries
across creeks in northern Mumbai.
Black and yellow metered taxis, accommodating up to
four passengers, cover most of the metropolis. Auto
rickshaws, allowed to operate only in the suburban area,
are the main form of hired transport there. These three-wheeled
vehicles can accommodate up to three passengers.
Auto rickshaws are the main form of transport in the
suburbs.Mumbai is served by two airports, the Sahar
International Airport near Andheri which caters to international
flights and cargo; and the Santacruz Airport, south
of the Sahar Airport which caters to domestic flights.
The nearby Juhu aerodrome was India's first airport
and now hosts a flying club and a heliport.
Mumbai is well connected by trains to all parts of India.
The city is also the headquarters of two rail divisions,
the Central Railway (CR) headquartered at Chatrapati
Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus)
and the Western Railway (WR) headquartered at Mumbai
Central. With its unique topography, Mumbai has one
of the best natural harbours in the world handling 50%
of the country's passenger traffic and much of India's
cargo. It is also an important base of the Indian Navy. |
