Monday, September 16, 2024 Mumbai’s highly anticipated underground Metro Line-3, set to launch by September-end, promises to transform the city’s transit, connecting key business and entertainment hubs. Mumbai’s most intricate and ambitious underground metro venture, the Mumbai Metro Line-3, is set to launch operations by the end of September. Also referred to as the Colaba–Bandra-SEEPZ line, or Aqua Line, this project has navigated numerous obstacles and is regarded as one of the most technically demanding infrastructure undertakings in the city.
Spanning 33.5 kilometers, the metro line will connect key business, financial, and entertainment districts, including Nariman Point, Fort, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), SEEPZ, and MIDC. This route is anticipated to revolutionize Mumbai’s public transport system.
The first segment of the line, stretching between Aarey Colony and BKC, including the Aarey Carshed and Aarey Station, is slated for completion by the end of September. The second phase, which will connect BKC to Colaba, is expected to be operational by 2025. Once fully functional, Metro-3 will serve approximately 1.
7 million commuters daily, with trains running at a consistent frequency of 3 to 4 minutes, accommodating up to 2,500 passengers per trip. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) is overseeing this massive project, with the total cost estimated to be around ₹38,000 crore. Upon completion, the metro will allow travelers to journey from Colaba to SEEPZ in under an hour, operating along both North-South and South-North corridors, similar to the Central and Western Railway suburban lines.
Strategically located stations near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Churchgate, as well as the key interchange hub at Dadar, will offer seamless transfers between the city’s various transport systems. In addition, the metro will provide easy access to more than 30 educational institutions, 13 hospitals, 14 religious landmarks, and over 30 recreational venues. The system will also integrate with other Metro lines, the Monorail, Suburban trains, and ST bus services, easing congestion on the city’s suburban railway network by an estimated 15%.
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