Mumbai Metro 3 Island City Inaugurates Long-Awaited Metro Line

After six and a half years since the commencement of tunnelling work for the Cuffe Parade-BKC-Aarey Metro 3 corridor, Mumbai is on the brink of welcoming its first Metro train into the island city.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has announced plans to initiate train operations on a short stretch, extending till Siddhivinayak or Dadar station, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress. While not constituting an official trial run, this preliminary step is deemed crucial for advancing the project towards the subsequent trial phases. According to a senior official from MMRCL, key infrastructure milestones such as overhead electrification (OHE) and track-laying have been accomplished up to Dadar, facilitating the commencement of the initial train run. The primary objective of this preliminary operation is to gather valuable insights and data that will inform the upcoming trial runs, which are scheduled to extend up to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli. MMRCL has adopted a phased approach to open the 33.5-kilometre Metro 3 corridor, with Phase I encompassing the BKC-Aarey stretch, Phase II extending to Worli, and the final phase connecting to Cuffe Parade.

In preparation for full-scale operations, MMRCL has conducted loaded trials on train rakes, simulating passenger loads with gunny bags filled with debris, replicating real-world conditions between BKC and Aarey. With 19 rakes in possession, MMRCL asserts its readiness to operate over 260 services in Phase I operations, ensuring efficient transportation services along the corridor. Upon obtaining necessary safety certifications and approvals from the Independent Safety Assessor and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, commercial operations are set to commence, marking a significant leap forward in Mumbai’s public transportation infrastructure. The impending launch of Metro services in the island city underscores the culmination of years of meticulous planning and execution, heralding a new era of convenient and efficient urban mobility for Mumbai’s residents and commuters.