Mumbai Metro-3 opens today: Stations, timings, fares, and key details about city's first underground line

The Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey stretch of Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is set to open to the public today, Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase on Saturday, even taking a ride to Santacruz station and back. During his journey, he interacted with students, beneficiaries of the Maharashtra government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, and construction workers involved in building Mumbai's first underground metro line. He also introduced the MetroConnect3 app, designed to improve the commuting experience.



The 12.69-kilometer stretch between Aarey Colony and BKC is part of the larger 33.5-kilometer Colaba-SEEPZ-Aarey Metro Line 3, which recently received final approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).

What You Need to Know Before Your Monday Commute

Stations The BKC to Aarey stretch includes 10 metro stations:

• BKC
• Bandra Colony
• Santacruz
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) T1
• Sahar Road
• CSMIA T2
• Marol Naka
• Andheri
• SEEPZ
• Aarey Colony JVLR (the only ground-level station)

Timings

The Aqua Line service will begin at 11 am on Monday, October 7, with the last train departing at 8:30 pm. Starting October 8, regular services will run from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm on weekdays and from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm on Sundays.

Train Frequency

• Peak hours: Every 6.5 minutes
• Non-peak hours: Every 15-20 minutes
• 96 round trips will run daily between Aarey and BKC
• 48 pilots will operate the trains, 10 of whom are women
• Estimated Daily Ridership: Around 4 lakh passengers are expected to use this line each day.

Fares

• Minimum fare: Rs 10
• Maximum fare: Rs 50

How to Get Tickets

Tickets can be purchased through the MetroConnect3 app or at physical counters at the stations.

How the Line Will Help

This new stretch is expected to reduce vehicular traffic by 35%, eliminating about 6.5 lakh vehicle trips. Additionally, it is projected to save nearly 3.54 lakh litres of fuel every day.

Connectivity

The Aarey-BKC stretch connects directly to both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. It also links with the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka station.

Future Expansion

Once fully operational, the entire Colaba-Aarey Metro Line 3 will handle around 13 lakh passengers daily, with trains running every three to four minutes. Each eight-coach train will have a capacity of 2,500 passengers.

The line will operate at speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour, with an average speed of 35 kilometers per hour during daily operations.