On October 5, Mumbaikars commuting on the ever-busy and chaotic stretch from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey heaved a sigh of relief. Their dream of an efficient, hassle-free and air-conditioned commute became a reality. There were bonuses, too—no tantrums from the rickshawala and over an hour saved both ways.
The first phase of Mumbai Metro's Line 3—a 12.69km stretch between Aarey JVLR and BKC—was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally travelled from BKC to Santacruz and back. He also interacted with the workers who helped build the city’s first underground Metro line.
It was a historical moment as this was the first segment of the Aqua Line or the larger Metro Line 3—33.5km from Colaba to Bandra and SEEPZ— is India’s first fully underground metro line and Mumbai’s first underground line. Civil work for the line started in 2016, and it turned out to be one of the most “complicated and challenging urban infrastructural projects in the country” experts told THE WEEK. Mumbai’s position on the coast is always a challenge, and this line had to pass through some of the densest locations in the city.
Major challenges
1. The underground stations on this line had to be constructed in congested areas with narrow and busy roads.
2. The line passes through the heritage precincts of South Mumbai and there are other old and fragile buildings across the stretch, especially along Kalbadevi and Girgaon area. So, it was crucial to ensure that the tunnelling did not damage these buildings in any way.
3. The line passes under the Mithi river, and the stretch required special engineering and skillsets.
4. The line passes under existing Metro lines. The crossing under Marol, in the suburb of Andheri, was a one-of-its-kind challenge that required experts from diverse areas to brainstorm for solutions together to protect existing foundations.
5. Similar challenges came up when constructing stations below flyovers and highways. For instance, the Santacruz station sits below the Western Express Highway.
Despite these challenges, an A-team comprising Indian and international talent ensured that Maximum City kept moving at its regular pace and nobody felt as much as a quiver despite the earth moving underneath their buildings.
Underground, 17 mammoth TBS (tunnel boring machines) bored through the mud, negotiating the city’s high water table. Over ground, elaborate traffic management measures were in place to support the constant movement of heavy machinery and construction material.
Then, Mumbai's predominantly rocky geology came into play, and it was important to ascertain whether a formation could hold the strain of an underground metro station. Given that Mumbai sees heavy rains for three to four months, and with many areas prone to flooding, measures have been taken to ensure the smooth functioning of the underground throughout the year.
All entry/exit gates of underground stations of Metro Line 3 will be one-metre above the highest recorded flood level, which was planned after studying data of the last 100 years. The tunnels are watertight, well-lit and ventilated. In case of any emergency, sensor-based pumps will be activated automatically.
Environmental concerns
And, as the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) went about constructing the railway line, which will serve generations to come, there were environmental concerns, too, in play.
Phase 2 of Metro Line 3 needed Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for underground stations. Forest clearance is needed for mangrove areas near some stations. Then there is the need for land acquisition at multiple locations, rehabilitation of project-affected persons, tree-cutting permissions to be secured and multiple litigations by environmental activists.
Having surmounted all these challenges, the fully operational Phase 1 of Metro Line 3 is now expected to witness a daily footfall of around four lakh passengers. The project received approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety, ensuring that the line meets all safety standards.
Reduced carbon footprint
And once the entire Line 3 is operational, it will cater to 13 lakh passengers daily. This would lead to a reduction in around 35 per cent of road traffic. With the successful execution and running of the entire stretch of the Aqua Line, it is expected that by 2031, around 6.65 lakh vehicular trips are expected to be reduced every day, cutting down fuel consumption by 3.54 lakh litres a day. The burden on suburban railways is also expected to fall by round 15 per cent.
With a running schedule from 6:30am to 10:30pm from Monday through Saturday, and from 8:30am to 10:30pm on Sundays, Phase 1 of the Aqua Line will run across 10 stations connecting BKC, Bandra Colony, Santacruz, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport T1, Sahar Road, CSMIA T2, Marol Naka, Andheri, SEEPZ and finally terminating at Aarey Colony JVLR (the only station at grade level).
With trains running every 15-20 minutes during non-peak hours, 96 daily round-trips between Aarey and BKC are planned, manned by 48 pilots, including 10 women. Rates are set at an affordable Rs 10 to a maximum of Rs 50. Tickets for the Aqua Line can be easily bought through the dedicated MetroConnect3 app or at physical counters and ticket-vending machines at each station, offering flexibility to commuters.
Push for public transport
One of the most significant benefits of using the Aqua Line for daily commute, with its 26 underground stations on the entire stretch from Cuffe Parade to Aarey, is its integrated connectivity with various other crucial locations and landmarks in the city.
For instance, the BKC-Aarey stretch connects both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and links with the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka station. It will also connect with important railway stations such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on the Central Line and Churchgate station on the Western Line.
The fully operational Metro Line 3 will also shuttle commuters to major business centres like Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade, Fort and Lower Parel, the business district of Bandra Kurla Complex, and the industrial belt of SEEPZ/MIDC (Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone/Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation).
Once the entire Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro Line 3 becomes fully operational, it is expected to serve 13 lakh (1.3 million) passengers daily, with trains running every three to four minutes during peak hours. Each eight-coach train will accommodate around 2,500 passengers, providing a substantial boost to Mumbai’s public transportation capacity. Metro Line 3 is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 85kmph, with an average running speed of around 35kmph, ensuring fast and efficient travel across the city.
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