Mumbai’s ambitious underground Metro Line 3 project, designed to revolutionise urban mobility across the city, is moving closer to a crucial milestone.
The second phase of the corridor spanning from Dharavi to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli is now awaiting final certification from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), a prerequisite for commencing passenger operations. Once approved, this new segment of the metro will add significant capacity to Mumbai’s transport network, which has been under increasing pressure from rapid urbanisation and population growth. Authorities managing the project confirmed that the integration trial between the first and second phases is underway. In view of this, operational hours on the existing stretch between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Aarey were adjusted on April 18 to facilitate seamless connectivity testing across the full corridor. The adjusted timings allowed for critical system synchronisation, including signalling and safety operations, spanning six stations between BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk.
The 33.5-kilometre-long Line 3 is Mumbai’s first fully underground metro corridor, envisioned to connect key commercial, residential, institutional, and transport hubs across the metropolis. While the first phase from Aarey to BKC—covering 12.44 kilometres and 10 stations—is already operational and providing 96 daily trips, the upcoming segment is poised to further reduce congestion on surface roads and cut travel time substantially. With fares ranging between ₹10 and ₹50, the corridor provides an affordable option for the city’s middle-income and working-class population, while also encouraging a shift away from private vehicles. Experts involved in the project estimate that travel time between Worli and BKC will be halved once Phase 2 becomes operational. The overall corridor is expected to serve up to 1.4 million commuters daily in its first year of full-scale operations—an impact that promises to be transformational, particularly for a city known for its overstretched and ageing transport infrastructure.
According to senior officials, the Metro Line 3 will directly link six major business districts, including Nariman Point, BKC, and Lower Parel, along with 30 corporate hubs, 12 educational campuses, 11 hospitals, and 25 cultural and recreational landmarks. Moreover, with planned connections to both the domestic and international terminals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the corridor is expected to offer an unparalleled level of transit integration within the city. Notably, planners have emphasised the importance of sustainability throughout the corridor’s development. The metro’s underground design reduces land acquisition and preserves green spaces, while energy-efficient train systems and station designs aim to cut the city’s overall carbon footprint. Public transport experts and city planners say that such infrastructure is vital in the face of climate change and Mumbai’s increasing vulnerability to flooding, extreme heat, and pollution.
Officials have also stated that Metro Line 3 is being developed with a strong emphasis on universal accessibility, including gender-neutral facilities and step-free access across all stations. This aligns with the broader urban policy goals of building equitable and inclusive cities. Still, there remain logistical and operational challenges before the full corridor can be opened to the public. Final clearances, particularly from safety regulators, are critical, and trial runs continue to assess system performance under integrated conditions. Officials noted that all efforts are being made to meet compliance standards at every level, from rolling stock operations to fire safety, ventilation, and passenger evacuation protocols. There is cautious optimism among transport planners that the corridor will serve as a model for future sustainable transport infrastructure in other Indian cities. The emphasis on underground construction, seamless multimodal integration, and digital operations monitoring marks a shift away from traditional road-centric urban planning to people-first mobility systems.
As Mumbai edges closer to bringing its most complex infrastructure project into full operation, citizens await with anticipation the convenience, speed, and efficiency the corridor promises. For many, it is not just a new metro line, but a bold step toward building a city that prioritises access, equity, and environmental responsibility.
Dharavi to Worli Metro Line Nears Safety Clearance to Start Soon
