Mumbai’s newly launched Metro Line 3 has welcomed 1.55 lakh passengers in its first week of operation, from October 7 to October 13. This underground line, managed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL), has seen growing interest from commuters since its opening.
On the first day, 18,015 passengers used the metro, but by October 13, the number had jumped to 25,782, marking a 43.11 per cent increase.
To make travelling between the Airport (A2 entry, west side) and T2 (P4 entry-pick up and drop) easier, MMRC has also launched a free bus service for Metro 3 commuters. Further, it will also provide loading service for baggage. There will be a 21-seater bus running every 15 minutes. The operating hours will be from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM (Mon-Sat) and from 8:15 AM to 11:00 PM (Sunday).
The Phase 1 section of the line covers 12.44 kilometres between Aarey and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). This stretch is part of the larger 33.5 km underground metro project. The service began after the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 4.
The metro aims to make travel easier for daily commuters. The journey from Aarey to BKC takes only 30 minutes by metro. During peak hours, trains run every 6.5 minutes. The same trip by road can take over an hour on the Western Express Highway.
The metro operates 96 trips a day, starting at 6.30 am and ending at 10.30 pm on weekdays. On weekends, services begin at 8.30 am. The fare for a one-way trip ranges from INR 10 to INR 50, depending on the distance travelled.
In addition to the successful metro launch, MMRCL has also initiated a tender for a plot in Nariman Point, offering it for development under a long-term lease. The request for proposals was issued earlier this week, with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for October 28.