September 25, 2024: Mumbai, India In short, Mumbai is getting ready to become an epicenter of the transportation revolution pretty soon when its very first underground metro line, ‘Aqua Line’ or ‘Metro Line 3’ comes into its maiden phase of operations. Described as something of a game-changer for daily commutes for millions of Mumbaikars, it promises to get them around the city in much less time, much more efficiently, and with less pollution on some of the most congested roads in the world.
Route and Stations
The Aqua Line will stretch 33.5 km from Colaba to SEEPZ, passing through 27 stations. The first one is 12.5 km connecting the Aarey Colony to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), across 10 stations. The first phase, which is expected to be launched shortly, will largely improve connectivity in the major parts of Mumbai, including the two terminals of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Capacity and Operations
The Aqua Line will transfer around 6.5 lakh passengers per day in its first phase and approximately 1.7 million passengers once it is fully operational. Estimated to cost ₹37,000 crore, this project will involve 96 daily services from Aarey to BKC using eight trains. One 8-car train will carry 2,500 passengers with a top speed of up to 90 km/h and an average speed of 35 km/h.
Operating Time and Service Interval
The metro will operate from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM from Mondays to Fridays and 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM on weekends. The operational frequency will be such that there will be fixed and spaced timings for the provision of efficient and effective service to the commuters. Owing to the high level of safety, the metro will have in-built features of operating driverlessly for optimizing efficiency as well as safety.
Environmental and Technological Features
However, despite all this, the Aqua Line has also faced further delays due to environmental concerns, particularly with regards to the Aarey car depot. Nevertheless, the project has progressed with utmost caution that it minimizes environmental effects as much as possible. The metro will also be linked to other metro lines and suburban railways, meaning there will be connectivity throughout the city in a fluid manner.
Future Outlook
All of these lines are expected to be ready for full operational activity by March 2025. One of the milestones of urban development in Mumbai, the metro is likely to reduce road traffic congestion drastically, especially in the western suburbs, making daily commutes fast and comfortable.
Conclusion
The city stands at the threshold of a new era in urban transport as it prepares to launch its first underground metro. It is sure to bring respite to India’s overtaxed transport system, opening up a state-of-the-art, efficient, and sustainable means of travel for millions of commuters.
How do you feel about this new metro? Share your thoughts with us on the subject.
This article gives an overall synopsis of the first underground metro of Mumbai in terms of its features, benefits, and prospects for the future. If you would like me to provide more details or adjustments, feel free to let me know!
Leave a Reply