Mumbai's first underground metro line to begin service from July 24; know routes, timings & more

Mumbaikars rejoice! The city's highly anticipated first underground metro, the Colaba- Bandra-SEEPZ line, also known as the Aqua Line, is set to begin operations on July 24.

This 33.5 km underground route (Metro Line 3), stretching from Aarey Colony to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), will revolutionise city transportation, linking south Mumbai to the western suburbs and easing pressure on the suburban railway network.

Operated by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL), Phase 1 of the Mumbai Metro Line 3, running from Aarey Colony to BKC, features 26 underground stations out of 27.

Key stops include 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.

This 33.5 km line will integrate with eight railway stations, MSRTC services, and metro lines 1 and 2B, catering to an estimated 1.7 million passengers daily.

The ₹23,136 crore project is primarily financed by a ₹13,235 crore loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has successfully completed trials for the rolling stock, with ongoing tests for electrical systems and signalling. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will conduct an inspection upon completion of these tests.

Commuters can anticipate significantly reduced travel times, with the metro operating at speeds of up to 90 km per hour, covering a 35 km journey in just 50 minutes. The metro will run 260 services daily, from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM, marking a substantial enhancement to Mumbai's public transport infrastructure.