The second phase of Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line—Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line)—will begin passenger operations from Saturday, following its formal inauguration by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday afternoon.
The inauguration ceremony is scheduled at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) metro station at 12:30 pm. The newly opened stretch adds six key stations: Dharavi, Sitaladevi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, Worli, and Acharya Atre Chowk. It spans 9.77 km from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk and features a significant engineering milestone—tunnelling beneath the Mithi River. Passenger services will commence at 6:00 am on Saturday. Once fully operational, the 33.5-km Aqua Line will connect Colaba in South Mumbai to SEEPZ in the north, covering 27 underground stations across major locations like Churchgate, Dadar, and BKC.
The first phase of the metro line—stretching 12.69 km from Aarey JVLR to BKC—is already in service. With the addition of Phase 2, Mumbai’s underground metro now covers over 22 km. The final 13-km section from Worli to Cuffe Parade is currently under construction and will be part of the third and final phase. Originally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to inaugurate the project. However, the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam prompted a change in plans, with CM Fadnavis stepping in to lead the event. He is also expected to take a metro ride from BKC to Siddhivinayak during the launch. Although construction of the second phase concluded in March, passenger operations were delayed pending mandatory safety approvals. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) confirmed that all required clearances have now been secured.
With improved travel time, modern coaches, and seamless access across commercial and residential zones, Metro Line 3 marks a crucial step in Mumbai’s transit transformation. Urban mobility experts say the Aqua Line is set to ease pressure on road transport and make daily commuting more efficient for thousands of city residents.
