Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line crossed 7.2 crore passenger journeys in its first year of full-route operations as the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation marked the milestone with a commuter stamp trail and a time capsule scheduled to be opened in 2036.
MMRC Managing Director Ashwini Bhide sealed the capsule and unveiled the commemorative initiative on October 9 in the presence of senior officials, including Director Planning R Ramana, Director Systems Rajeev and Director Finance Yogendra Saxena.
The time capsule will remain sealed for 10 years and is scheduled to be opened on October 8, 2036, marking a decade of full-route operations on Mumbai’s first underground metro corridor. According to MMRC, it contains photographs, records, operational milestones and memorabilia documenting the development and running of the Aqua Line.
MMRC described the capsule initiative as a first-of-its-kind effort in India’s metro sector. The collection is intended to preserve the corridor’s early history and provide future generations with a record of how the underground line was developed and operated during its first years.
The corporation also launched the Aqua Line passport and stamp trail for commuters and metro enthusiasts. The trail covers 10 designated stations, with each station featuring a specially designed commemorative stamp highlighting its distinctive character and surrounding neighbourhood.
The initiative is intended to encourage passengers to travel across the corridor and explore the areas connected by the line. It adds a commemorative and discovery-focused element to daily metro use, while keeping the anniversary programme centred on the stations and neighbourhoods served by the corridor.
MMRC also felicitated its most-travelled commuters during the anniversary event, recognising passengers who have made extensive use of the Aqua Line since it became fully operational. The corridor runs underground from Aarey-JVLR to Cuffe Parade and connects several important locations across Mumbai.
The ridership milestone reported by MMRC was based on 72,088,738 cumulative passenger journeys recorded on the line. In September 2026, the corridor recorded average daily ridership of 224,602 on weekdays and 131,138 on weekends, according to the corporation.
The figures indicate the scale of use reached by the entire corridor after a year of full-route operations. MMRC said the Aqua Line has continued to attract commuters and has become part of Mumbai’s daily public transport network.
The time capsule is scheduled to be opened on October 8, 2036, when the corridor completes 10 years of full-route operations.
