Mumbai Metro Line 3’s Trial Runs Extended to Siddhivinayak Station

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) on Thursday extended trial runs (train testing) on Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 (Aqua Line) from Dadar Station up to Siddhivinayak Station.

MMRC and Alstom Transport’s teams manually operated one of their 8 coach Alstom Metropolis trains at a low-speed of 10 kmph on the down-line tracks up to Siddhi Vinayak Station – a distance of roughly 1.1 km from Dadar Station and 5.4 km from BKC Station (terminal station of Phase 1 operations).

As always, the sole objective of the first run was to check for Schedule of Dimensions (SOD) clearances and observe the train’s interaction with the civil structure to ensure there are no physical obstructions along the way.

Electronic signage (digital display) within the train – Photo by a follower

The section’s twin tunnels were built by Continental Engineering Corp – ITD Cementation – Tata Projects JV as part of 6.08 km Package UGC-04 connecting Dharavi to Worli.

Herrenknecht TBM S-1073 (Krishna-1) had completed tunneling for the 1126m down-line tunnel from Siddhivinayak to Dadar in December 2020. Tunneling for the 1106m up-line tunnel, through which testing is yet to begin, was completed in October 2020 by TBM S-1074 (Krishna-2).

Line-3’s route from Dadar to Siddhivinayak within Package UGC-04 (Worli – Dharavi) – view Mumbai Metro map & information

To facilitate this low-speed run, Line-3’s traction contractor (Alstom Transport) on May 3 energized the line’s 25 kV overhead electrification (OHE) system. Here’s a notification published in the newspapers by MMRC:

Some snaps from the trial run shared by a follower:

As shared in the past, Mumbai’s Line-3 is clearly running terribly way behind schedule as Indian metro operators after the final tunnel breakthrough have taken no more than 2 years to finish system installation, station architectural finishing & testing to operationalize their metro lines.

In fact in Agra, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) took just 2 months to start commercial operations. The final breakthrough for Line-1’s Priority Corridor was recorded on December 29, 2023 and the line was opened for travel on March 6, 2024.

Anyhow, Line-3’s opening has been divided into 3 phases. Integrated train testing on Phase 1 (Aarey Colony – Bandra Kurla Complex) with 10 stations started in March 2024 and India’s Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) just completed testing Line-3’s rolling stock.

Architectural finishing work of varying degree is pending at all Phase 1 stations. Mock fire drills are scheduled to be held in the coming weeks at all Phase 1 stations for MMRC to obtain the Fire Department’s NOC in order to start operations.

Phase 2 (Bandra Kurla Complex – Acharya Atre Chowk) with 6 underground stations will be the next to open, which I envision will happen no more than 6 months from the opening of Phase 1.

Here are some recent snaps from Siddhi Vinayak and Shitladevi stations shared by MMRC (more here):

Likely Siddhi Vinayak’s concourse level – Photo by MMRC
Shitladevi’s platform level – Photo by MMRC

For more updates, check out the Mumbai section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? Get early-access to updates and support the site over here.

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

11 Responses to "Mumbai Metro Line 3’s Trial Runs Extended to Siddhivinayak Station"

  1. shailesh says:

    Great that L3 is finally in sight! Do you have any indication of when work on L11 might start? Unfortunately, it seems that L11 and maybe the U/G sections of L8/L16 would be the last underground lines in Mumbai. A tragedy considering Mumbai is most in need of tunneling, although I rest easy knowing that every underground-to-elevated interchange except for L2/L3 at BKC would probably be a horrible Out-of-Station interchange — forget underground-to-elevated, just look at many of L6’s transfers along with the lack of cross-platform interchanges between L2/L9, L4/L5, and L3/L11.

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      L11 – don’t see work starting before 2027 given the time taken for state & CG approvals.

      You’re spot on about UG lines and the absolute garbage interchanges being planned. Only about 10% of Mumbai’s lines are planned with underground routes. Just 10%. Our cities are ugly and have low road densities to begin with. Whatever arterial roads exist have been earmarked for elevated roadways, poorly designed metro lines or FOBs to interconnect them.

      Reply
  2. Sunil says:

    Extension to Navy Nagar happened after suddenly the Navy nagar folks woke to the fact that they also would like to avail of this metro much after it’s construction started.

    Reply
  3. shailesh says:

    I’m waiting for Mumbai’s Shanghai moment – the transition from poorly made fully elevated lines to multiple fully underground lines. Ironically, most if not all of Shanghai’s underground lines have been made for less on a PPP basis than Mumbai’s elevated lines.

    Reply
  4. Aryan says:

    Financial Bids opened L9 Depot. Any update who’s the lowest bidder?

    Reply
  5. Karan K says:

    The last two break-throughs of Bangalores pink line are long overdue. Apparently the TBMs ran into some unexpected obstacles. Do you perchance have any updates on that, our super omniscient TMRG?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Tunga ripped open another sinkhole in June which has been filled up with grout. It’s halfway through its drive (480/938m completed). Bhadra is trailing behind by roughly 150m.

      I’m not too concerned at this time since the 1st prototype train’s delivery is scheduled in June 2025. Due to tendering delays on the systems side, these tunneling setbacks won’t matter.

      Reply
  6. Karan K says:

    🙁

    Reply

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