The long-awaited underground Mumbai Metro 3 has made significant progress, with the Aqua Line’s train successfully reaching the Siddhivinayak metro station from Aarey on Monday. According to sources from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), if all goes as planned, the Aqua Line will begin ferrying passengers up to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli by February 2025. The remaining stretch, extending up to Cuffe Parade, is expected to be operational by mid-2025.
This milestone comes ahead of next week’s planned partial inauguration of the Mumbai Metro 3 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inauguration will cover the stretch between Aarey and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and will also include the launch of one corridor of the Thane Creek bridge, along with the foundation stone laying for the Thane Ring Metro.
Once fully operational, the Aqua Line will be Mumbai’s first underground metro line, significantly reducing travel time between Cuffe Parade and the airport from 100 minutes to just 50 minutes. The 33.5-kilometre route will feature 27 stations, starting from Aarey Colony and ending at Cuffe Parade.
“The trains have already reached Siddhivinayak metro station, and the results have been as desired,” an MMRC source told Hindustan Times. “We are working on the technical aspects and may decide soon whether to cater to passengers between Aarey and Acharya Atre Chowk by February next year.”
Currently, the MMRC has sent an application to the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for the inspection and certification of the 12.5-kilometre stretch between Aarey and Bandra Kurla Complex. Should the commercial operations up to Acharya Atre Chowk begin as planned, the full completion of the Aqua Line, including the remaining stretch up to Cuffe Parade, is anticipated by mid-2025.
As of the latest updates, 92.3% of the remaining 21-kilometre stretch beyond Bandra Kurla Complex is complete. This includes road resurfacing, track laying, electrification, station system installations, testing, and system integration.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Mumbai Metro 3 was originally held on August 26, 2014, by then-chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and then-Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Construction officially commenced on October 21, 2016.
Sources By Agencies
