Representative image of the Aqua Line.
Credit: X/@MumbaiMetro3
Mumbai: The iconic fully-underground Aqua Line of the Mumbai Metro Rail is expected to be fully operational around Dussehra.
The Line-3 or the Colaba–Bandra-SEEPZ, popularly known as Aqua Line, passes through the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban.
The full 33.5 km-long Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor is the country’s longest underground Metro line with 26 stations.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) is the nodal agency for the project.
On October 5, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Phase-1 of the Aqua Line from Aarey to Bandra Kurla Complex, while on 1 May 2025, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Phase-2 of the underground Metro from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli.
The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) has started inspection of the last section between Worli and Colaba.
The project has faced several hurdles and is one of the most technically-challenging infrastructure projects being undertaken in Mumbai.
The route connects business, commercial, banking and entertainment hubs like Nariman Point, Fort, Bandra Kurla Complex, Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area.
Metro-3 will cater to 17 lakh passengers daily with an unfailing frequency of 3 to 4 minutes, ferrying approximately 2,500 passengers at a time.
The total project cost is expected to be around Rs 38,000 crore.
Once fully complete, it would ensure a commute within one hour - and would run in the North-South and South-North direction like the suburban networks of Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR).
The route has stations near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Churchgate, the headquarters of CR and WR and also Dadar where CR intersects with WR.
It will ensure easy access to over 30 educational institutes, 13 hospitals, 14 religious places and over 30 recreational facilities.
“It will provide connectivity to the areas hereto not connected with suburban rail like Kalbadevi, Girgaum, Worli and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport,” officials said.
It will integrate with other Metro Lines, Mono Rail, Suburban railway and ST Bus Services and will also reduce congestion on suburban railways by 15 per cent.
In March 2022, the Government of Maharashtra announced plans to extend Aqua Line southbound from Cuffe Parade, adding one new station – Navy Nagar.