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Mumbai's Aqua Line, referred to as Metro 3, has officially launched its complete 33.5 km underground route that connects Aarey to Cuffe Parade. This eagerly anticipated project saw an impressive turnout on its opening day, with 146,087 passengers utilizing the service by 9 pm. The new line establishes an underground rail link between south Mumbai and the suburbs.
Passenger traffic increased significantly after 8:30 am at various stations, including Worli, Dadar, Vidhan Bhavan, CSMT, and Churchgate. Numerous commuters opted for the Metro as a preferred choice over waiting for BEST buses or incurring high taxi costs to travel to the island city. For instance, there was a notable drop in passengers on buses from Mantralaya.
Effects on Daily Travel
The Aqua Line has greatly shortened both travel time and expenses for many users. A journey from Aarey to Cuffe Parade now takes only 58 minutes via Metro, compared to 1 hour and 22 minutes by car. The ticket price is Rs 70 on the Metro, while driving costs nearly Rs 800. Similarly, traveling from BKC to Churchgate takes just 31 minutes (Rs 30) on the Metro, compared to 36 minutes (Rs 560) by car.
Neha Shah, a bank employee commuting from Marol to BKC, shared how her routine has improved. "Previously, I spent Rs 200 daily on auto and still arrived late. Now, it's just Rs 40 and a flat 25 minutes. I can plan meetings with confidence knowing I'll arrive on time," she remarked.
Commuter Feedback
Ramesh Jadhav, who works in an insurance firm at Cuffe Parade, expressed his satisfaction: "I used to wait 20 minutes for a BEST bus at Worli depot and then sit in traffic for an hour to get to Nariman Point. Today, I hopped on the Metro at 9 am and reached Hutatma Chowk in just 19 minutes for Rs 20."
The evening peak was particularly evident at Vidhan Bhavan station in Nariman Point. To manage the influx of passengers safely, one of the seven entry gates was temporarily shut for about ten minutes. Officials noted that the CSMT-Churchgate-Vidhan Bhavan segment was particularly favored by commuters.
Community Sentiment
Sadashiv Amin from Cuffe Parade described the Metro as a "huge relief" for residents who previously dealt with steep taxi fares or infrequent bus services to Churchgate railway station. "I now enjoy seamless connectivity," he noted.
Hitesh Ashara from Girgaon, a broker at Diamond Bourse in BKC, called this development revolutionary: "I used to spend Rs 40 daily on auto rides, and I often faced refusals. The Metro has simplified travel within south Mumbai."
Online Reactions
The launch of the full line sparked excitement on social media as well. Infrastructure enthusiast Sahil P posted on X: "Incredible scene at Aarey JVLR station, the starting point of Line 3. People have parked their cars and taken the metro to South Mumbai." Sandesh Samant commented: "You can already feel that this line is going to be a success."
A team from TOI that rode the entire Aarey-Cuffe Parade route noted moderate crowds at stations between Marol, BKC, Dadar, and Worli during the morning, with some standing passengers. While ridership slightly declined south of CSMT after noon, it remained consistent throughout the day.
The Aqua Line's inauguration represents Mumbai's first fully underground metro corridor completed in one phase and is also recognized as India's longest such line constructed at once.
