HOW TO GET TO IIT: Some tips for visitors from outside Mumbai

Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. It is a large and bustling city that is always busy. Mumbai has excellent connections to the rest of India and to the world. While this makes Mumbai easy to get to, the diverse nature of the travel methods, the many routes and several different terminals within Mumbai result in one major complication: there is not one, but many, entry points from where visitors need to be picked up to get to IIT, and there are trains and planes arriving all through the day and night.

Because of this, it is very difficult for the conference organizers to arrange for pickup/drop-off for the large number of delegates that arrive in a short period of time. With the information provided here, it is easy to get to IIT on your own. We request you to do the same, as we are not providing local transport from the station or airport to IIT. Our apologies for the inconvenience this may cause, and we request your understanding and indulgence in this matter.

There are as many as 3 airport terminals and 6 main rail terminals within the city. This document describes how to get to IIT from the main terminals and provides general tips for travel. The taxi and the auto-rickshaw are the common transport modes from the transport terminals. They are almost always available on demand.

The taxi is the most convenient mode of travel especially when you have luggage. There is a black and yellow taxi (very common) and a blue and gray (air-conditioned A/c) taxi that operates by meter plus tariff card. The meter reading is to be multiplied by approximately 13 to arrive at the fare. A 50% surcharge is applicable for travel between midnight and 6 am. A charge of Rs.10/- per large bag or suitcase is also charged. A/c. taxi fares are higher. There also are private taxis but their rates vary and a pre-negotiated rates is desirable. A table giving fares to IIT from various locations is given below.

The three wheeler auto-rickshaws (also colored yellow and black) ply in the suburbs of Mumbai and are useful to get to IIT from nearby local train stations where taxis may not be readily available. The meter reading is multiplied by 8 or 9 to arrive at the fare.

1. From airport terminus:

1.1 Santacruz terminal A (Indian Airlines flight)

1.2 Santacruz terminal B (All other domestic airlines)

Outside each of these terminals there is a queue of waiting taxis regulated by a traffic policeman who will helps you secure a cab. Within the airport departure lounge there are a few taxi counters but these are private taxis.
    1. Sahar International Terminal (all international flights and some night domestic flights run or Air India).
A prepaid taxi service counter is at the exit and is recommended.

2. By Train: The main train terminals are at:

    1. Bandra, Dadar, Bombay Central for trains on the Western and Northern Railways.
    2. Kurla, Dadar, and C.S.T. for trains on Central, Eastern and Southern Railways.


      3. From all these. it is easiest to take a taxi from outside the station to IIT, or a slow local train to Vikhroli on the Central Main Local Railway from where you take on auto-rickshaw to IIT.

    3. Thane, Kalyan and Panvel for trains on Central, Konkan and Southern Railways.
For Thane, Kalyan and Panvel, it is better to take a slow local train to one of the above points, preferably Vikhroli, and then take Taxi or Auto. No direct Taxi or auto is available from these locations due to intervening municipal boundaries. Approximate Multiplying Factors : Taxi-Meter = 13 times (day), 20 times (night); Auto = 8 to 9 times. Insist on a tariff card. Use Prepaid, wherever possible. Prepaid fares may be higher, but more convenient as payment is done under supervision.

Approximate Fares to IIT based on meter reading and tariff card: Add extra for luggage.

Starting Point
Taxi
Auto
CST
Rs. 300
Not Available
Bombay Central
Rs. 340
Not Available
Dadar
Rs. 225
Not Available
Kurla Terminus
Rs. 150
Rs. 70
Bandra Terminus
Rs. 180
Rs. 100
Santacruz Airport
Rs. 160
Rs. 70
SaharAirport
Rs. 190
Rs. 80

The nearest convenient local railway station is Vikhroli (on Central main line). Exit on the west side. Auto fare to IIT is about Rs. 15 and Rs. 25. A map of the IIT campus is also available herewith. In case of an emergency, contact telephone: 9820591936 or 5767207. Have an enjoyable and a safe journey! See you at the conference.