Mumbai's First Underground Metro To Start Operations Soon? Here's What We Know

BJP national secretary Vinod Tawde has deleted the social media post where he had announced on Wednesday that Mumbai’s first underground metro will begin operations on July 24.

Earlier in the day, Tawde, in an X post, had announced that Mumbai’s first underground metro will be operational from July 24, adding that this project will boost the city’s transportation speed.

Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Mumbai Metro Aqua Line or Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Line, is set to be the city’s latest modernisation project. Phase 1 of the line, operated by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL), stretches from Aarey Colony to BKC.

In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, Tawde said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had guaranteed improvements to the lives of Mumbaikars, and this promise is set to be fulfilled with the launch of the city’s first underground metro line.

This comes as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) completed the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) trials for the rolling stock of Metro Line 3. Testing of other electrical systems and integrated testing of the rolling stock with signaling is currently in progress. After the completion of these tests, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will be invited for an inspection.

33.5-kilometer line

The 33.5-kilometer line will serve an estimated daily passenger capacity of 1.7 million. It will connect with eight railway stations, MSRTC services, and metro lines 2B and 1. Out of 27 stations on the line, 26 will be underground.

The route will include stops at Aarey Colony, SEEPZ, MIDC, Marol Naka, CSMIA T2, Sahar Road, CSMIA T1, Santacruz, Vidyanagari, BKC, Dharavi, Shitladevi Temple, Dadar, Siddhivinayak Temple, Worli, Acharya Atrey Chowk, Science Museum, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai Central, Grant Road, Girgaon, Kalbadevi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Hutatma Chowk, Churchgate, Vidhan Bhawan, and Cuffe Parade.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 23,136 crore. The majority of the funding, 57.2 percent, comes from a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ODA loan amounting to Rs 13,235 crore, with a 30-year repayment period, a 1.15 percent interest rate for the project, and a 0.01 percent interest rate for consulting services. Features of the new line include continuous mobile service and the capacity to accommodate 3,000 passengers per train.