Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate Mumbai's first underground metro during his visit to the city in the first week of October. He will be partially inaugurating the Metro 3 project, marking the opening of the Aqua Line's first phase, which will be the first underground Metro in Mumbai. 


The 12.5 kilometre stretch between Aarey Colony and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is part of the 33.5 kilometre Colaba-Seepz-Aarey Metro Line 3. According to the managing director for Mumbai Metro Rail Cooperation (MMRC) Ashwini Bhide, the Metro Line 3 will be commissioned soon after it receives clearance by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety, news agency PTI reported.


Addressing a press conference, she said the MMRC has already received two necessary approvals and a nod for rolling stocks (Metro train). However, the application for the rail line is pending approval.


Out of the 33.5 km long underground Metro corridor, the 12.5 km Aarey Colony to Bandra-Kurla Complex route is likely to be inaugurated by PM Modi in the first week of October along with other infra projects in the state, including Thane Creek Bridge and the final phase of the Samruddhi Expressway connecting Mumbai to Nagpur. 


Bhide stated that 93 percent of the work is complete and the entire line is expected to be commissioned by next year.


About Mumbai's First Underground Metro 



  • Aqua Line's first phase will cover a streatch of 12.5 kilometres.

  • It will have ten stations between Aarey Colony and BKC.

  • The length of the entire Colaba-Seepz-Aarey Metro Line 3 is of 33.5 km with 27 stations.

  • The entire line between Colaba and Aarey is likely to be commissioned by March or May 2025.

  • Aarey-BKC stretch will provide connectivity to both Terminal 1 and 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. It will also connect the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka station.

  • The line will have 96 daily services between Aarey and BKC. Eight-car trains will operate from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, except on Sunday when the first metro service will start at 8.30 am.

  • The designed speed on the line is 85 kmph, while the average running speed will be 35 kmph.

  • The first phase of the corridor will have a carrying capacity of 6.5 lakh passengers per day.

  • The minimum fare on the line will be Rs 10 and the maximum will be Rs 50. However, once the entire corridor is commissioned the maximum fare will be Rs 70.

  • A total of 48 captains, including ten women will be employed for the train operation. Women will also be employed in the operation and maintenance of the line once it is commissioned. 


The line has been built to provide ease of connectivity to daily commuters with access to international and domestic airports. The Aqua Line will link central, southern, and western parts of Mumbai once it is fully operational.


Some of the key areas along the line include Nariman Point, Worli, Mumbai Central, and Dadar. The passengers will receive paper tickets with a QR code intially. Later, NCMC cards would be introduced gradually, NDTV reported.


This underground line is expected to reduce road traffic congestion in high-traffic areas such as the western suburbs of Mumbai.