PM Modi bto inaugurate Mumbai Metro 3 today

The much-awaited Mumbai Metro Line 3, the city’s first underground Metro, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday during his visit to the city. Out of a total 33.5-km-long underground corridor, only a 12.44-km stretch between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Aarey will be inaugurated, seven years after construction began. While civil work on the remaining stretch is still ongoing beyond BKC to Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai, which is slated to open only by mid-next year, according to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), the project implementing authority, a 50:50 joint venture of the Centre and the Maharashtra government.

Apart from Metro 3, Modi will also do groundbreaking of other major infrastructure projects, including the Thane Ring Metro project and the new Thane municipal headquarters. The PM will also visit the BKC Metro 3 station.

After its inauguration, Metro 3 will not be opened to the public immediately. It is likely to be opened to the public on Monday.

Phase 1 of the project, spanning from Aarey to BKC, will allow commuters to travel between this stretch in just 30 minutes, with trains running every 6.5 minutes during peak time. Currently, the same journey by road during peak traffic, particularly along the Western Express Highway (WEH), can take over an hour due to frequent traffic congestion.

MMRCL Managing Director Ashwini Bhide had, in an earlier media briefing, said that with 96 trips daily, the services will operate from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm on weekdays and, on weekends, from 8:30 am onwards. The minimum fare will be Rs 10 and maximum will be Rs 50 between Aarey and BKC for one way trip.

Meanwhile, Kaneko Toshihiro, Deputy Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, stated, “The Mumbai Metro Line 3 is one of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. It is heartening to see that the growing and deepening bond between India and Japan is reflecting through the reality of these projects. Another joint iconic project between Japan and India after Atal Setu, it will transform Mumbaikars’ daily commute by reducing their travel time, and mitigate traffic and air pollution. We are proud that the Japan government is part of transport infrastructure development in Mumbai and look forward to an early operation of full Metro Line 3.”

Metro 3 completion cost is pegged at Rs 37,276 crore, funded 60% by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and is expected to touch ridership of 31.51 lakh daily by 2055. Line 3 will be the major arterial line in the North -South direction alleviating road congestion. The line will connect six business districts, 30 offices, 12 educational institutions, 11 major hospitals, 10 transportation hubs, 25 religious and recreational centres, and provide connectivity to both domestic and international airports. It will also serve areas like Kalbadevi, Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade, and BKC, which currently lack direct rail-based transport connections.

The project has seen extensive collaboration from experts from countries such as Singapore, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Israel, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, among others.

Graphics

Phase I: Aarey to BKC (Now ready for commissioning)

No. of stations: 10 (9 underground stations + 1 At-Grade station)

Distance: 12.44 km

Headway: 6.5 minutes (to be reduced with commissioning of additional phases)

No. of trips: 96 round trips (Aarey JVLR to BKC)

No. of trains for Phase I: 9

Operating speed: 85 kmph

Phase II: BKC to Cuffe Parade: (expected commissioning March 2025)

Total length : 33.5 km (fully underground corridor)

Stations: 27 (26 underground + 1 At-Grade)

Depot : Aarey