Mumbai Metro Line 3’s BKC to Aarey Segment Set for Public Launch: Essential Information for Travelers and Commuters
Mumbai, 7th October 2024: The Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey segment of Mumbai’s Metro Line 3, also known as the aqua line, is set to commence operations for the public starting Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this first phase on Saturday, riding to Santacruz station and back. During this journey, he engaged with students, the Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries, and labourers who worked on the city’s inaugural underground Metro line. He also unveiled the MetroConnect3 app, aimed at improving the commuting experience for users.
This 12.69-kilometre stretch between Aarey Colony and BKC is a segment of the 33.5-kilometre Colaba-Seepz-Aarey Metro Line 3, which received its final approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) earlier this week.
Here’s what travellers need to know:
Stations
The corridor linking BKC and Aarey features ten Metro stations:
– BKC
– Bandra Colony
– Santacruz
– Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) T1
– Sahar Road
– CSMIA T2
– Marol Naka
– Andheri
– SEEPZ
– Aarey Colony JVLR, the only at-grade station
Timings
Services on the aqua line will commence at 11 am from both Aarey JVLR station and Bandra-Kurla Complex on October 7 (Monday), with the last train leaving at 8:30 pm.
Starting October 8, the regular operation of Mumbai Metro Line 3 will run daily from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm (Monday to Saturday) and from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm on Sundays.
Frequency
– Rush hours: Every 6.5 minutes
– At other times: Every 15-20 minutes
The line will conduct 96 round trips between Aarey and BKC with 48 pilots, including 10 women. An estimated daily ridership of 400,000 is anticipated.
Fares
– Minimum fare: ₹10
– Maximum fare: ₹50
How to Get Tickets
Tickets can be acquired through a dedicated app or at designated counters.
Benefits
The first phase of Mumbai Metro-3 is projected to eliminate 650,000 vehicular trips, potentially decreasing road traffic on this stretch by 35%. It is also expected to save around 354,000 litres of fuel.
Connectivity
The Aarey-BKC stretch connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka station.
Once fully operational between Aarey and Colaba in South Mumbai, Metro-3 is expected to serve around 1.3 million passengers daily, with trains arriving every three to four minutes. Each rake, composed of eight coaches, can accommodate approximately 2,500 passengers. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) estimates that the daily ridership for the initial phase will reach around 400,000.
The line’s operational speed will be 85 kilometres per hour (kmph), with an average running speed of 35 kmph.
