Mumbai Metro-3 To Run From Aarey-Cuffe Parade From October 9: Route, Fares To Timings, Details Here

Mumbai Metro-3 To Run From Aarey-Cuffe Parade From October 9: Route, Fares To Timings, Details Here

Mumbai Metro-3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the final phase of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 between Acharya Atre Chowk and Cuffe Parade, marking a major milestone in the city's infrastructure development.

With the opening of the 10.99-km Phase 2B stretch, Mumbai's first fully underground metro corridor covering a total distance of 33.5 km, known as Aqua Line, will become fully operational from Thursday. The prime minister inaugurated the final phase of the metro corridor virtually from the venue in Navi Mumbai where he also inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has announced that passenger services on the entire underground corridor between Cuffe Parade and Aarey JVLR will commence from October 9.

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“Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 is a significant enhancement to Mumbai's infrastructure. Metro connectivity is essential for a city's growth. This project will have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Mumbai," Modi had written on X shortly before the inauguration ceremony.

Known as the Aqua Line, Metro 3 is Mumbai's first fully underground corridor. It has 27 stations — Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate, Hutatma Chowk (Fort), CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum (Worli), Worli, Siddhivinayak, Dadar, Shitaladevi Temple, Dharavi, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Vidyanagari, Santacruz, CSIA Domestic Airport (T1), CSIA International Airport (T2), Marol Naka, MIDC, SEEPZ, Marol, Aarey Colony, Aarey Depot (JVLR terminus)

The Mumbai Metro-3 work was carried out in three phases:

Phase 1 – Aarey Colony to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC): The 12.69-km phase was thrown open to the public on October 7, 2024. Its cost was Rs 14,120 crore.

Phase 2A – BKC to Worli: The 9.8-km phase two launched on May 9, 2025. Its cost was Rs 9,500-10,000 crore.

Last phase – Worli to Cuffe Parade: The phase was inaugurated on October 8, 2025. Its cost is Rs 9,785 crore.

End-to-end travel is projected to be completed within 60 minutes.

Phase 1 operated with about 8-9 rakes giving 96 round trips daily between Aarey and BKC.

With Phase 2A added, services rose to 244 daily operated by 8 trains/rakes.

Each eight-coach train carries up to 2,500 passengers; designed speeds of 85 km/h, with an average of 35 km/h.

ALSO READ | Mumbai's Metro 3 Opens Fully On October 8: The Aarey To Cuffe Parade Line Was In The Making For 8 Years

There will be a big change for passengers on the underground Metro 3 line between Aarey and Cuffe Parade. Metro services will be run every five minutes on this line during rush hours, which will make travel more convenient.

A day before, the MMRC, through its X handle, had informed that the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) had accorded authorisation for passenger operations on the Mumbai Metro Line-3 Phase 2B between Acharya Atre Chowk and Cuffe Parade stations.

The first service from both Aarey JVLR and Cuffe Parade will start at 5.55 am, while the last train will depart at 10.30 pm from both directions, reaching terminal stations by 11.25 pm.

Dharavi: Dharavi, while one of the country's largest slums, is also known for its various small-scale industries, including recycling, leather production, pottery, and textiles. The life in Dharavi slum has been covered in various Hindi films.

Siddhivinayak Temple: The temple in Prabhadevi is a must-visit for any Ganpati devotee. It sees long queues on special occasions, with several celebrities spotted there regularly.

Worli: A promenade, sea link to houses of famous celebrities, there is nothing you can't find in the central Mumbai. Besides, it also stands testimony to the city's old charm with its chawls and fishing villages, with its Common Man sculpture and fort adding to its beauty.

Science Museum: A common picnic spot for schools, the centre in Worli is known for its interactive science exhibits. The science center is very informative not only for children but also for adults.

Mahalaxmi: An upscale neighbourhood in the city, it known for the Royal Western India Turf Club's Mahalaxmi Racecourse, with horse races every year having visitors from around the world. It is also known for the Mahalaxmi Temple, and offers a great view of Malabar Hill and the Arabian Sea.

CSMT: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai. It is the headquarters of India's Central Railway and one of the busiest railway stations in India, handling both long-distance and suburban trains. There are several historic spots in the area such as Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Marine Drive, Jehangir Art Gallery, Colaba Causeway, among others.

ALSO READ | Mumbai Metro-3 To Slam Brakes On CSMT-Cuffe Parade Cabs? Metro Rail Vs Taxis, Let The Race Begin

Hutatma Chowk: The square in South Mumbai hosted Flora Fountain and was known by that name until 1961. It was later renamed in the memory of the members of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, who died when police fired upon their peaceful demonstration in 1956. A statue of a ‘Martyr with a Flame' stands next to Flora Fountain.

Vidhan Bhavan: It is the centre of all the action in Mumbai politics. During an assembly session, you may also get to spot some political leaders. From AIR building to Marine Drive, just a long walk in the area will give you a glimpse of Mumbai.

Phase 1 alone cuts 650,000 car trips daily, reducing road congestion by 35% and saving 3.54 lakh litres of fuel/day.

Phase 2A attracted over 32,000 passengers/day within two days of launch, connecting key business hubs (BKC, Worli, Dadar).

Full line predicted to serve up to 13 lakh passengers/day impacting air quality and commute experience across southern-central Mumbai.

Line 1 at Marol Naka (adjacent station exit; short walk)

Line 2B at BKC/ITO (planned skywalk)

Line 6 (Pink) at Aarey JVLR (under construction)

Planned interchanges at Dadar, CSMT, Mumbai Central, Churchgate with other metro lines and suburban rail.

Some connections, like Marol Naka (Line 1) are separate stations requiring exit and re-entry (short walk).

Other interchange paths — for instance at airport stations or BKC—may involve longer underground walks.

It links major business zones: BKC, Worli, Dadar, plus airport access and SEEPZ tech park. Offers fast, reliable travel avoiding surface congestion, ideal for professionals in finance, corporate, and services sectors.

Timesaver

Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) saves a significant amount of travel time by offering fast, direct, and uninterrupted underground connectivity through the core of Mumbai.

Here's how:

End-to-End Travel Time Reduction: Full Aarey to Cuffe Parade distance will be covered in 60 minutes. It takes 120-180+ minutes to cover the stretch by road during peak traffic.

BKC to Worli: 13-15 minutes by Metro vs 45-60 minutes by road

Andheri to Cuffe Parade: 45-50 minutes by Metro vs 90-120 minutes by road

CSIA T2 to BKC: 10-12 minutes by Metro vs 30-45 minutes by taxi in traffic

Bypassing surface traffic

Being fully underground, Line 3 avoids road congestion, traffic lights, signal delays, and monsoon-related flooding. You move seamlessly from north to south without interruption.

Direct access to key hubs: Major business zones connected such as SEEPZ, MIDC, BKC, Worli, Lower Parel, Fort, Cuffe Parade. It will be directly connected to airport terminals (T1 & T2) saving time on airport transfers. Railway interchanges at Dadar, Mumbai Central, Churchgate, and CSMT make switching faster.

High frequency & reliability: Trains every 6-7 minutes during peak hours. Consistent, predictable schedules — no wait for BEST buses, taxis, or autos.

Avoids long detours: Previously, to go from Andheri to Fort or Cuffe Parade, commuters had to:

Take the Western Express Highway-Mahalaxmi-Peddar Road-Marine Drive

Or switch between autos, buses, trains, and taxis

Total trip: 2-3 different modes and 90 minutes

Metro-3 offers a single-seat ride, direct and clean.

From Dahisar East: Take Metro-7 (click for detailed explanation) and get off at Gundavli. Change over to Metro-1's (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) Western Express Highway station. It is a five-minute walk between Metro 7 and Metro-1 through a 58-metre foot overbridge, so plan accordingly. Using Metro-1, travel towards Ghatkopar and get off at Marol Naka. Change over to the underground Metro-3 which will take you to BKC or further to Worli and Colaba.

ALSO READ | Mumbai Metro 3: How Was Tunnel Under CSMT, Flora Fountain Laid?

From Borivli West: Take Metro-2A (click for detailed explanation) from Borivali West and get off at Andheri West. Change over to Metro-1's DN Nagar station. Using Metro-1, travel towards Ghatkopar and get off at Marol Naka. Change over to the underground Metro-3 and head to BKC or further to Worli and Colaba.

On October 8, OneTicket app (see details here and below) was launched, which offers integrated ticketing system between Metros and public transport systems. Download OneTicket on Google Play Store for Android and OneTicketIndia on Apple App Store. You just need to put in your destination, you don't need to know the names of the Metro lines for it.

Mumbaiites can switch Mumbai metro lines with just a single ticket. The app is for various types of public transport services including Metro, Monorail, Suburban Rail and Bus.

Mumbai OneTicket will include Mumbai Metro Lines 2A, 7, 3, 1, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Rail, Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport, Thane Municipal Corporation Transport, Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation Transport, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation Transport and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Transport.

ALSO READ | OneTicket App: Don't Know Mumbai Metro Lines? Steps To Get Borivali-Colaba, CSMT-Dahisar Tickets

Purchase options: Station counters, ticket vending machines, MetroConnect3 app, or QR tickets.

From June 11, 2025, the RuPay National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)—branded as the Mumbai 1 card—is accepted on Metro 3 between Aarey and Acharya Atre Chowk. The NCMC works across Metro Lines 1, 2A, 3, and 7, and on BEST buses. Cards used on other metro lines or Chalo bus services are fully compatible when tapped at Metro-3 stations.

Points to remember while buying tickets

Current Phase 1/2A operates via QR tickets or counters; smartcard rollout is underway.

Coin acceptance issues reported at Marol Naka machines — some do not accept Rs 10/Rs 20 coins and fail to give change.

Signage and station guides are still evolving — especially for airport travelers with luggage.

Phase 1 (Aarey-BKC): Rs 10-50

Phase 2A extension (Aarey-Acharya Atre): Fare up to Rs 60

Full corridor (Aarey-Colaba): Rs 70

Railway

Marol Naka: Ghatkopar station (800-m walk)

Santacruz: Western Railway (800 m)

CSMT interchanges

Airport integration: Passengers at T2 station may need to walk; shuttle or walkway under construction

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will be linked to two Metros – Metro-3 or the aqua line through a tunnel at Bandra-Kurla Complex and 2B via a foot overbridge (FOB).

ALSO READ | Ghatkopar-Cuffe Parade Via Mumbai Metro-3? Here's How You Can Travel Minus Train, Bus, Taxi Hassle

Planned physical interchanges with Lines 1, 2B, 6, 7A (airport link), 8 (Gold Line) and suburban rail at Dadar, CSMT, Churchgate, Mahalaxmi.

Completion of full corridor by August 2025 will enable seamless transfers across Metro & suburban systems.

With PTI Inputs

Source: News18
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