My Journey to MUMBAI I do not know why I fear getting down to Mumbai or Delhi. One reason could be the rush and so much of population in it. I had heard many stories about the life in city, the dark tales obviously do not encourage me. Anyways, I thought of sharing some knowledge in reagrds to my journey, felt it might help some one. OKAY !! So, I had to go down to the BCT train station (Mumbai Central it is actually, B <- Bombay) from Pune to drop a relative. Then, I had to come back to Pune. I checked out the websites and found that there is no direct bus service or train from Pune to BCT. So, I had boarded the Raj Travels from Pune.
Raj Travels -> Bus is well maintained unlike the Neeta one. Neeta travels is the worst bus experience of my life. They charge you more and they serve you the worst. Raj in contrast is fast (Took 3:30 hours to reach SION) and also clean. The only thing I did not like about Raj was that they asked us to come to the pick up point and then they took us to the place where the actual bus was.
It all looked like what happens in case you are boarding an aeroplane. But, frankly who likes to take pain to come the pick up point and then travel again from there to the actual point of origin. So, whoever of you aactually wanting to travel with Raj, please do not get irritated by this. They have an online booking site too.
(https://raj.travel/BE_Home/Default.aspx) Enough of Travels... If I had a choice I would have preferred a train instead. So, I got down at SION and then from there I took a taxi to BCT. It cost 110 to my pocket (from meter it comes 7.20 meter reading and Rs 100). So, I was not robbed :). One of my fears. But, you will have to be careful as initially the guy asked me to give Rs 200/-. Well thanks to my smartness... he he. Anyways, anything like this happens ask around atleast 3 shopkeepers about the best and cheapest possible way. I could have taken a Local but I had no spare time to take a risk. Anywhow, the taxi wala uncle was all jolly and talkative, so 20 mins just flew by and we reached the BCT station well ahead of time.
At BCT: The station is huge unlike Pune.. It is well built. Platforms are under the roof. There is Mc D & Rajdhani restaurent. There is a Coffe day Express run by IRCTC. Seating arrangement w.r.t. the volume of commuters is not sufficient. As, after spending half an hour at Mc'D, next 1 hour I was just getting restless as where to sit. So, I will give 2/10 to the seating arrangement. 2 coz there are seats visible with 2 people staring at each one of the occupied one. There is a continuous sound at the station of the trains as the platoforms are under the rooves. OKay !! so my relative boarded the train and it was 730 in my watch now.
I had taken a ticket from Mumbai CST to Pune at 820pm. So, I had to reach Mumbai CST (Last name was VT, CST is known to very few people there). So, if you aske for CST and anyone gives you a strange look, say VT you mean. Anyways, then I asked a stall guy and he told me that fastest way to reach is to take a local to CHURCHGATE and then from there a taxi to CST. I did the same, bought the ticket from upstairs (LOCAL ticket counter) and then took the train from platform number 2. This train took hardly 5 mins to reach CHURCHGATE. Reaching there I asked a policemen about CST, I was surprised when he too gave me a strange look. then I said VT and he told me to either take a bus from outside (No. 138) or to hire a taxi. I took a taxi, as I was already very much tired from the morning. Taxi took 10 mins and costed me Rs 23/-. Mind you that there are different platforms for LOCAL trains.
MUMBAI CST:- This station is also very huge, all lighted and lots and lots of masses moving around. Anyways, I looked for my train and moved myself back to Pune with a sip of Express Coffee. :) I hope it will benefit someone. I will say that PUNE to MUMBAI --> Better option is travels bus as they have drop points.
MUMBAI --> Local is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way. Taxi, should only be taken in urgent times or if you are with someone speacial. But, it does cost you some dearly bucks.. he he Buses --> I have not tried any till now. LOCAL Charts can be seen at the below link. https://kalphonso.googlepages.com/railwaytimetable
