Mumbai’s Aqua Line metro, also known as Metro 3, has not met expectations since its partial launch on October 5, 2024. The metro corridor connects Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey Colony. Initially, it was expected to draw around 400,000 daily passengers. However, actual ridership has been much lower.
Between October 7, 2024, and February 20, 2025, only 2.66 million passengers used the Aqua Line. This averages to less than 20,000 passengers per day. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) made the data public on Twitter.
The 12.44-kilometre stretch between Aarey and BKC saw 29,162 trips over 136 days. This translates to 58,324 one-way services. On average, only 91 passengers travelled per trip. With each service accommodating 46 passengers, the metro is far below its capacity.
Here are the latest metrics for Metro Line 3 as of February 20, 2025. Efficient rides, timely trains running smoothly & on schedule.#MumbaiUnderground#Aqualine#Metro3Metrics#ConnectingTheUnconnected pic.twitter.com/wlH6R63eIX
— MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) February 21, 2025
The Aqua Line operates nine trains with a frequency of seven minutes and thirty seconds. Each eight-coach train can carry up to 2,500 passengers. Even then, ridership remains low. Weekday services run from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. On weekends, the metro operates from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm.
Rush hours bring more passengers, but the rest of the day sees low foot traffic. As per sources, this is because of the corridor’s partial operation as a key reason for the poor response.
The Aqua Line is part of a larger 33.5-kilometre corridor extending from Aarey to Cuffe Parade via BKC. The corridor is being developed in phases. The next section, reaching Acharya Atre Chowk, is expected to open in the coming months. The full completion is targeted for June 2025.
Despite low ridership, the metro has maintained a strong performance. The MMRC announced a 99.60 percent timeliness rate on social media.
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