Mumbai Metro Aqua Line – Info, Route Map, Fares, Tenders & Updates
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Information
Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line (Line-3) is a 33.5 km under construction metro line with 27 stations connecting Cuffe Parade – BKC – Aarey Colony.
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) is the nodal agency responsible for building and operating this primarily-underground line, and was constituted as a JV of the Govt. of India (GOI) and the Government of Maharashtra (GOM) on a 50:50 sharing basis.
The Aqua Line was approved for construction by India’s central government on June 28, 2013 with an estimated cost of Rs. 23,136 crore. A majority of it (57.2%) is being financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan of Rs. 13,235 crore from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with an interest rate of 1.15% for project activities, 0.01% interest rate for consulting services, and 30 years of repayment (including 10 years of grace period).
7 contracts for the construction of the Aqua Line’s underground tunnels and stations were awarded in July 2016 (see contractor list at the bottom). Construction work began in January 2017 and the first of 17 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) began excavation in November 2017. A total of 41 TBM breakthroughs are planned. As of March 2020 – 28 have been recorded.
The Aqua Line will open in 2 stages (Aarey Colony – BKC and BKC – Cuffe Parade) and was originally targeted to open by June 2021, but will be delayed due to construction delays and protests by citizens (activists, Bollywood actors etc.) against the felling and transplanting of trees from Aarey Milk Colony where the line’s maintenance depot (car shed) is planned. As of 2020, construction elsewhere is ongoing but civil work has not been able to commence for the depot’s structures and the at-grade Aarey Colony Station.
Whenever the line opens, it will be connected to other metro lines, bus and suburban rail services through multiple interchanges throughout its north-south route. The line’s official colour as Aqua was revealed to the public on August 16, 2019 by the then incumbent chief minister.
The Aqua Line’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by RITES in 2011 can be viewed here.
Key Figures
- Estimated Cost: Rs. 23,136 crore
- Estimated Daily Ridership: 17.0 Lakhs/Day (2021)
- Under Construction: 33 km
- On Hold: 0.5 km (Ramp – Aarey Colony Station)
- Rolling Stock: 248 coaches (31 x 8) by Alstom capable of UTO (Unattended Train Operation) with GoA4
System Specifications
- PHPDT: 39,000 (2021)
- Rolling Stock Width & Axle Load: 3.2m & 17T
- Top Speed: 90 kmph
- Average Speed: 34 kmph
- Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1435 mm
- Electrification: 25 kV, 50 Hz AC OHE + regenerative braking system
- Signalling: Alstom Urbalis 400 Communication-based Train Control (CBTC)
Aqua Line Route Information
Line-3 – Aqua Line: Cuffe Parade – BKC – SEEPZ – Aarey Colony (33.5 km)
- Length: 33.5 km
- Type: Underground & At-Grade
- Depot: Aarey Colony (tentative)
- Number of Stations: 27
- Station Names: Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate, Hutatma Chowk, CSMT, Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk, Worli, Siddhivinayak, Dadar, Shitladevi, Dharavi, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Vidyanagri, Santa Cruz, CSIA Terminal 1 (Domestic Airport), Sahar Road, CSIA Terminal 2 (International Airport), Marol Naka, MIDC, SEEPZ and Aarey Colony (only at-grade station)
Aqua Line Route Map
Aqua Line Fares (Ticket Prices)
Aqua Line’s fare structure, prices and rules have not been announced yet. MMRCL plans to deploy an open loop automatic fare collection (AFC) system. Users will be able to pay using QR codes on their phones, contactless pre-paid and post-paid smart cards.
Aqua Line Tenders
Latest notices inviting tenders can be viewed on MMRCL’s website. News on these notices, their bidders, awarded tenders and contracts are covered in further detail on the news & construction page.
Aqua Line’s Major Contractors
| Contract | Contractor |
| General Consultant | MAPLE: AECOM (lead) – PADECO, LBG and Egis Rail |
| UGC-01: Cuffe Parade – CST (tunnels & 4 stations) | Larsen & Toubro – Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (L&T-STEC) JV |
| UGC-02: CST – Mumbai Central (tunnels & 4 stations) | Hindustan Construction Co – Moscow Metrostroy JV |
| UGC-03: Mumbai Central – Worli (tunnels & 5 stations) | Doğuş – Soma JV |
| UGC-04: Worli – Dharavi (tunnels & 3 stations) | Continental Engineering Corp – ITD Cementation – Tata Projects JV |
| UGC-05: Dharavi – CSIA T1 (tunnels & 4 stations) | J Kumar Infraprojects – China Railway Tunnel Group JV |
| UGC-06: CSIA T1 – Marol Naka (tunnels & 3 stations) |
J Kumar Infraprojects – China Railway Tunnel Group JV |
| UGC-07: Marol Naka – Aarey Colony Ramp (tunnels & 3 stations) | Larsen & Toubro – Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (L&T-STEC) JV |
| Package 8: Aarey Colony Depot | Sam (India) Builtwell Pvt. Ltd. |
| Package 9-1: CNC Under Floor Wheel Lathe | HYT Engineering Company Pvt. Ltd. |
| Package 9-2: Battery Operated Shunter | NITEQ – Renmakch JV |
| Package 10B: Track-works (main-line) | Larsen & Toubro Ltd. |
| Package 10C: Track-works (within depot) | Larsen & Toubro Ltd. |
| Package 11A: Traction System (25 kV Overhead Contact) | Alstom Transport – Alstom Transport India Ltd. JV |
| Package 11B: Power Supply System | Larsen & Toubro Ltd. |
| Package 12: Signaling & Train Control, Platform Screen Doors, Telecommunication System and M&E SCADA | Alstom Transport – Alstom Transport India Ltd. JV |
| Package 14: Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) | Kalindee Rail Nirman (Texmaco) – Asis Elektronik VE Billisim (Kalindee – Asis JV) |
| Package 15: Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) & Environmental Control System (ECS) – Aarey – BKC | Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. Ltd |
| Package 15: Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) & Environmental Control System (ECS) – Phase 2 Lot 1: BKC – Mumbai Central | Blue Star Ltd. |
| Package 15: Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) & Environmental Control System (ECS) – Phase 2 Lot 2: Mumbai Central – Cuffe Parade | Voltas Ltd. |
| Package 16A: Escalators – Lot E1: Aarey – Dadar | Yuanda – Royal JV |
| Package 16A: Escalators – Lot E2: Siddhivinayak – Cuffe Parade | Johnson Lifts – SJEC JV |
| Package 16B: Escalators (Lifts) – Lot L1: Aarey – Dadar | IFE – CRANEX JV |
| Package 16B: Escalators (Lifts) – Lot L2: Siddivinayak – Cuffe Parade | Yuanda – Royal JV |
| Package 17: Rolling Stock – 248 standard gauge coaches (31 x 8) | Alstom Transport – Alstom Transport India Ltd. JV |
| NJ-1: Depot E&M Works | Blue Star Lt.d |
| NJ-2: Pylon Shifting Works | Ravin – Ashtavinayaka JV |
| NJ-3: Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) | Bureau Veritas Italia S.p.A |
Click on ‘News & Construction Updates’ below for project news, progress and updates.
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Page last updated: December 25, 2020. Spot an issue? Let me know here.