Mumbai’s Metro 3 Likely to Be Inaugurated Before Maharashtra Assembly Polls
Mumbai: Mumbaikars will soon have access to the city’s second underground metro line as the first phase of Mumbai Metro 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is nearing completion. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has invited the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to inspect and approve the metro rakes. An inspection of the tracks between Aarey Colony and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is also scheduled, with the inaugural service on this stretch expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
First Phase Details
The first phase of Mumbai Metro 3 will cover 10 stations over a 12 km stretch, while the entire corridor spans 33.5 km with 27 stations. The MMRC is moving quickly to finalize operations for the Aqua Line.
- The rolling stock, or metro rakes, which will ferry passengers, is awaiting inspection and certification from the CMRS.
- The operational clearance for the entire line is expected next week, according to Ashwini Bhide, managing director of MMRC.
Likely Inauguration Timing
Officials indicate that the inauguration ceremony will likely occur after the 10-day Ganesh festival but before the model code of conduct comes into force for the assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to grace the event.
Passenger Capacity and Connectivity
Each train will have the capacity to ferry 2,500 passengers, with a service frequency of 3-4 minutes. The system will serve 42,000 passengers per hour per direction. An initial surge in ridership is expected, as many Mumbaikars will likely take joyrides during the early days of operation.
Strategic Connectivity
The first phase of the Aqua Line offers strategic connectivity, linking key locations such as:
- International and domestic airport terminals
- Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)
- Andheri East
- MIDC
- SEEPZ, a jewelry manufacturing hub
Additionally, this line will connect with Mumbai Metro 1 at Marol Naka. This integration will ease travel to both the western and eastern suburbs, as Metro 1 interchanges with other metro lines at Gundavali, Andheri West, and key railway stations like Andheri and Ghatkopar.
Construction Timeline
Though the ground-breaking ceremony for the 33.5-km long line took place on August 26, 2014, at Marol, the actual construction work only began in October 2016.
At present, Pune Metro is the only partially underground metro service in Maharashtra, with the station at Civil Court being one of the deepest in the country at 33.1 meters.
Mumbai Metro 3 is poised to transform commuting in Mumbai, offering a modern, fast, and efficient transport solution for the city’s growing population.
