First Look Of Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line Unveiled, Likely To Open In October | Photos

The first look of Mumbai’s first underground metro, Aqua Line 3, connecting Aarey Colony and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), was unveiled on Tuesday.

The 12.5km stretch of the metro line is likely to commence its operations on October 4, subject to safety clearance. The Aarey-BKC stretch has ten stations, providing connectivity to both Terminal 1 and 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka station.

The first phase of the corridor has a carrying capacity of 6.5 lakh passengers per day.

Addressing a press conference, Ashwini Bhide, managing director for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), said the Metro Line 3 is poised to be commissioned very soon, subject to clearance by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).

The official said that almost 93% of the work on the corridor is complete, and the entire line between Colaba and Aarey is likely to be commissioned by March or May 2025.

Mumbai’s 1st Underground Metro

Mumbai’s first underground metro, 33.5 km long Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 Corridor has 26 underground stations. It will integrate with the suburban railway, other Mumbai Metro lines, and existing transport modes at approximately eight locations, including major rail terminals like Mumbai CSMT and Churchgate.

The metro line will also link six major employment and business hubs: Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade, Fort, Lower Parel, BKC, and SEEPZ/MIDC. According to authorities, the line will provide easy access to more than 30 educational institutes, 13 hospitals, 14 religious places and 30 recreational facilities as well as to areas which are not connected with the suburban rail network, such as Kalbadevi, Girgoan, Worli, and the international and domestic airports.

MMRC has planned 96 daily services between Aarey and BKC, with eight trains in their fleet from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, except on Sunday when the first service will be at 8.30 am. Once operational, the Aqua Line is expected to offer 260 services daily, accommodating approximately 1.7 million passengers.

Bhide said that there will be 48 captains, including ten women, for the train operations. There will be many women in the operation and maintenance of the line once it is commissioned.

The Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 is a key project to improve the transportation system in the metropolis.

(With inputs from agencies)