The Mumbaikars' dream of taking a ticket and travelling across buses, suburban trains, metro, and monorails is finally taking off. The 'Mumbai One,' an integrated common mobility app, will usher in a new era in Mumbai's mobility issues,  bringing in seamless connectivity between 11 Public Transport Operators (PTO) across metro, monorail, suburban, railway, and bus public transport operators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday launch the app during his visit to Navi Mumbai and Mumbai to inaugurate the airport and Phase 2B of Mumbai Metro Line 3.

The Mumbai One app offers commuters a range of benefits, including integrated mobile ticketing across multiple PTOs, elimination of queueing by promoting digital transactions, and seamless multimodal connectivity through a single dynamic ticket for trips involving multiple transport modes, says a press release from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The Mumbai One app will connect the operational Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7, Mumbai Metro Line 3, Mumbai Metro Line 1, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Thane Municipal Transport, Mira Bhayander Municipal Transport, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport, and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport.

It also provides real-time journey updates on delays, alternative routes, and estimated arrival times, along with map-based information on nearby stations, attractions, and points of interest, as well as an SOS feature to ensure commuter safety. Together, these features enhance convenience, efficiency, and security, transforming the public transportation experience across Mumbai, said the release.

The idea of having a common ticketing system, like in many big cities across the world, was under planning for over two decades in Mumbai. In 2008, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)  launched a 'Go Mumbai' card, allowing the public to book bus and suburban train tickets. But due to various reasons, the Go Mumbai card did not gain popularity and had to be discontinued.

At present, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is developing an integrated public transport system for city travel in Kochi,  connecting the city's metro, electric water metro and feeder electric buses to stations with a 'Kochi 1 card' that allows passengers to use a single card for different modes of transport, simplifying fares and payments.