Mumbai Metro 3: Trial Runs Completed For Line Connecting South Mumbai

Mumbai Metro Line 3 will soon connect South Mumbai to the city’s metro network in March as the trial runs between Dharavi and Acharya Atre Chowk have been completed. The distance covered was 9.77 km. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) shared videos of the trials and photos of the new station on social media.

These trials are important for safety and efficiency. The metro will only begin operations after the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) inspects it in March.

🚆Metro update: MMRC has commenced train movement for Phase 2A on the Dharavi to Acharya Atre Chowk stretch, covering 9.77 km and 6 stations! Stay tuned for more developments. #MMRC #MumbaiMetro #Phase2A#Aqualine pic.twitter.com/TmgTNqApUi

— MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) February 25, 2025

Once opened, the Metro Line 3 will offer affordable travel of 22 km for INR 10 to INR 60. The metro will reduce crowding on roads like Lady Jamshedji Road and Dr. Annie Besant Road. The new underground extension will connect busy areas like Dharavi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, and Worli. This will help avoid traffic and make travel faster and easier.

However, there are some interconnection issues. The Dadar Metro station is a kilometre away from the Dadar railway station. Despite this, the extension will improve access to business hubs like Worli and BKC.

The metro line was opened in October. It initially operated between Aarey and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The upcoming extension will add the Worli Naka (Acharya Atre Chowk) station to the line.

Building Metro Line 3 required digging a tunnel under the Mithi River, which was especially difficult. The project faced unstable soil and constant water flow. The construction team used special tunnel boring machines (TBMs). They combined these with hydrophilic gaskets, which expand in water. This helped make the tunnels watertight.

Currently, around 25,000 passengers use it every day. This figure is lower than expected. However, ridership is likely to increase as the metro moves into South Mumbai. The area is one of the most crowded parts of the city.