People run in the metro of the train after the inauguration of the BKC-world section Mumbo Metro Aqua Line-3, in Mumbai, Friday, May 9, 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
Main Minister Mahashtra Devendra Fadnavis on Friday (May 9, 2025) inaugurated the 2A underground line Mumbo Metro 3, which connects the Bandra-Kurla (BKC) complex to Acharya Atre Chowk, and announced that the final corridor segment will be recorded in August.
Mr. Fadnavis describes Metro Line 3 as “Engineering Miracle”, he said that the project overcame significant geological and logistics challenges during its implementation. “We came from under the Mithi River and we were building metro stations in overloaded areas such as Girgaon. Only two stations will remain and Line 3 will be fully functional,” he said.
After the inauguration, Mr. Fadnavis and the Deputy Minister of EKNATH Shinde rode on a newly completed section. The 9.77 km segment, which includes six stations, received a security permit at the beginning of this week from the Commissioner for Railway Safety. It will be open to the public from Saturday.
Corridor COLBA-BANDRA-SEEPZ (LINE 3) is the first fully underground project of the metro in the Metropolitan Bombje (MMR). The first phase that connects Aarey with BKC became functional in October 2024. The last section, from Acharya Atre Chowk to Colab (phase 2b), covers 10.99 km and includes 11 stations and eventually connects the Cuffe show with the Central Communities in the city.
“Since 2022 we have accelerated all the metro lines. Next year, 50 km of new lines will be added, followed by another 50 km after a year after public transport in the MRD,” said Mr. Fadnavis.
According to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL) is expected that the fully operating line 3 will be used by approximately 13 passengers of the Lakhs a day, with up to 2,500 commuters each eight. Since its launch, the Aarey-BKC section has seen more than 41.6 Lakh with a daily average of 20,030 passengers.
Trouble -free connectivity in the middle of urban challenges
The newly inaugurated part combines key commercial centers such as BKC and worli, with cultural monuments, including the Siddhivinayak temple, Mahim Dargah, Mahim Church, Shivaji Park and several prominent theaters. The estimated travel time is 15 minutes.
The building faced several obstacles, including complex tunneling under the rock terrain, coastal regulatory will, management of operation in dense urban areas, land acquisition and permission for mangrove and tree felling. Officials stated that despite these limits of corridors, it promises to alleviate overload along the Western Express railway lines and suburban railway lines, while increasing the multimodal connectivity in Mumbai.
Published – May 9, 2025 20:50
