Mumbai: A major boost to Mumbai’s public transport infrastructure is on the horizon as Phase 2A of the underground Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as Aqua Line, connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli, is set to become operational soon. The development was confirmed by Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), during a television interview on Wednesday.
CMRS Clearance Expected In 2 Days
Bhide announced that the project has reached its final stage and is awaiting clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), which is expected within the next two days. Once certified, the second phase will become the latest addition to Mumbai’s expanding metro network.
"With 60 kilometres already operational, Mumbai’s metro footprint will soon extend to 374 kilometers across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region," she stated, adding that once all planned corridors are live, nearly one crore commuters will benefit daily.
While no official inauguration date has been declared, speculation is rife that the launch could coincide with Maharashtra Day on May 1 or during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Mumbai on May 2.
Metro 3 Revises Timings Temporarily
Meanwhile, in a separate update, Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), which currently runs between Aarey and BKC, will operate with revised service timings on April 25 and 26 due to technical reasons. According to an official announcement on the metro’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, services will run from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm on Thursday, April 25, and from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm on Friday, April 26. Commuters have been advised to plan their travel accordingly as this adjustment precedes the anticipated service expansion.
Phase 1 of Metro Line 3, which launched earlier this year, covers a 12.44 km stretch with 10 stations and offers 96 daily trips from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. It has significantly reduced travel time between Aarey and BKC from over an hour by road to just 30 minutes via metro. Ticket prices on this route range between Rs 10 and Rs 50.
Once fully completed, the 33.5 km underground corridor is expected to transform city commuting by connecting six key business hubs, 30 major office zones, 12 academic institutions, 11 hospitals, 10 major transit points and 25 cultural and recreational sites. The line will also provide direct access to both domestic and international airport terminals.
