Mumbai Metro update: When will the city's first underground start? Route, timings, and other details of Aqua Line

Mumbai’s much-awaited first underground metro - Aqua Line- will start operations soon. The new underground metro will likely transform urban transit, ease travel across Mumbai's streets and reduce traffic congestion.

The whole project will be completed by the end of December 2024, which was initially scheduled to be completed by September 2024.

“The Mumbai underground Metro Aqua Line 3 is not opening on July 24 or tomorrow. The dates were always September 2024 for phase one (SEEPZ-BKC) & December 2024 for phase two (BKC-Colaba),” read a tweet by Mid Day journalist Rajendra B. Aklekar.

Here are 10 points to know about the Mumbai Aqua Line

1. The Aqua Line will run a 33.5 km route from Aarey Colony to Cuffe Parade, with 27 stops.

2. The station in the new metro line includes Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate, Hutatma Chowk, CST Metro, Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Grant Road, Mumbai Central Metro, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk, Worli, Siddhivinayak, Dadar, Shitladevi, Dharavi, BKC, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, Domestic Airport, Sahar Road, International Airport, Marol Naka, MIDC, SEEPZ (Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone) and Aarey Depot.

3. The first phase of Mumbai Metro 3 will run between SEEPZ and BKC.

4. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party's general secretary Vinod Tawde on July 17 wrote on X and confirmed, “Prime Minister @NarendraModi ji had given a guarantee to make the life of Mumbaikars easier and this is going to be fulfilled. Mumbai's first underground metro (Aqua Line) is starting from July 24, which will give new impetus to the speed of the city”

5. According to the government, the Aqua Line (Line 3) of the Mumbai Metro is 98 per cent complete, with a revised cost of ₹37,275.50 crore.

6. According to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation website, the travel time from Cuffe Parade to the Airport will be reduced from 100 minutes to just 50 minutes with MML-3.

7. The website also states that the Colaba station, originally commissioned in 1873, was closed in 1930. The MML-3 project will restore Colaba to the rail network after 85 years.

8. Speaking about the comfort and security of passengers, the website also mentioned that the inclusion of escalators, elevators, secured platforms, and closed train doors, along with CCTV coverage, will significantly enhance safety and comfort for senior citizens, women, and patients. It also added that “entry will be available from both sides of the roads, eliminating the need for foot overbridges or road crossings.”

9. Moreover, it added that platform screen doors will ensure passenger safety and reduce the risk of accidents during boarding and alighting.

10. The website also states that under the project about 99.2 per cent of civil works have been completed. About 97 per cent of the overall station construction has been completed. Under the project, tunnelling works have been fully completed, while 77.6 per cent of overall systems work, depot civil works 99.8 per cent and mainline track works have been completed almost 87 per cent.

(With inputs from ANI)