Mumbai Metro Line 3 to get fully operational by next year; Phase 1 nearing completion | Details

Mumbai’s underground Metro Line 3, connecting Colaba, Bandra, and SEEPZ, will launch its first phase by mid-September. The initial stretch, from Bandra-Kurla Complex to Aarey, was delayed due to ongoing MEP work, particularly at airport stations.

Mumbai Metro Line 3 to get operational by next year.

(PTI photo)

Mumbai: Mumbai’s long-awaited underground Metro Line 3, which will link Colaba, Bandra, and SEEPZ, is set to launch its first phase by mid-September this year. The inaugural stretch will connect the bustling Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey, according to Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), the project’s implementing authority. Originally scheduled for earlier this year, the commissioning of Phase 1 faced delays due to ongoing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work, especially at the key airport stations, where construction on entry and exit points is still in progress.

Three major segments in phase 1

Phase 1 encompasses three major segments—Package 5, 6, and 7—covering the SEEPZ, MIDC, and Marol stations. The remaining work is concentrated in Package 6, which includes the Sahar, T1, and T2 stations. Sahar Road station, currently in its final stages of completion, awaits escalator testing and finishing touches on its entry and exit points. Similarly, T1 station, a significant hub with extensive commercial spaces, encountered delays due to its late construction start, further complicated by Mumbai International Airport Limited’s (MIAL) plans for overhead commercial development.

Stations to be built deeper than initial plans

These complications forced the stations to be built deeper than initially planned, prompting temporary entry and exit lobbies to accommodate passenger flow. A comprehensive safety audit will soon follow, assessing all commuter facilities such as lifts, escalators, and staircases. This review will precede the submission of the final proposal to the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) for certification.

Despite these setbacks, Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRC) as per The Indian Express report expressed confidence in the revised timeline, targeting the commissioning of Phase 1 by mid-September.

New set of challenges emerges with project extension

Looking ahead, the next stretch of Metro 3, extending from BKC to Cuffe Parade, faces its own challenges. The Girgaon and Kalbadevi stations are particularly difficult areas to navigate. The complete Metro 3 line is now slated to be fully operational by March to June next year, Bhide said. Originally, the entire line was expected to launch in September 2023, but subsequent delays pushed the first phase to September of this year.

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