Cityflo Buses Turn Into Mini Libraries Under ‘Turning Pages’ Initiative With Project Mumbai

Mumbai commuters now have the opportunity to enjoy a literary break during their daily office commute, thanks to a new initiative by Cityflo buses in collaboration with Project Mumbai. The ‘Turning Pages’ program transforms select buses into mini libraries, offering passengers a curated collection of books in various genres, including fiction, business, self-development, biographies, and contemporary Indian writing.

The initiative is part of Project Mumbai’s broader Read Mumbai movement, which aims to promote reading across the city. As a pilot program, the curated book selections will be available on a limited number of Cityflo buses. Commuters can select a book to read during their journey, and they can also donate books or suggest titles for fellow passengers.

Sankalp Kelshikar, the Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Cityflo, explained that the daily commute often serves as the only personal time for Mumbaikars. "Through our collaboration with Project Mumbai, we’re giving that time back to something most of us struggle to make room for — reading," he said. The initiative also encourages passengers to contribute books for others to enjoy.

Shishir Joshi, the founder and CEO of Project Mumbai, highlighted the partnership as a way to leverage Mumbai’s culture of movement, partnerships, and citizen participation. He added that the initiative seeks to create shared community spaces in everyday settings, such as the daily commute.

Cityflo bus riders have welcomed the initiative. Pranab Jyoti Bhuyan, a regular user of Cityflo, stated that having access to a variety of books onboard is an excellent way to make the commute time more productive. He also mentioned that it provides an opportunity to learn something new during the daily journey.

Mitesh Karamchandani, another regular Cityflo user, added that most people spend their commute time scrolling through their phones, often unaware of how the time passes. The Turning Pages initiative offers a refreshing change by allowing passengers to engage in reading and explore different genres and perspectives.