Mumbai Metro Aqua Line – Info, Route Map, Fares, Tenders & Updates

Information

Mumbai Metro’s Line-3 (Aqua Line) 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.

Line-3 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 Line-3’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. The final TBM breakthrough was recorded in November 2022.

Mumbai Metro’s Line-3 will open in 2 stages (Aarey Colony – BKC and BKC – Cuffe Parade). The first section is expected to be completed and opened in January 2024, much later than its deadline of June 2021.

This is 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 2022, 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.

Line-3 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.

Line-3’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by RITES in 2011 can be viewed here.

In August 2022, MMRC invited tenders to prepare a Detailed Project Report for extending the line by 2.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Navy Nagar in Colaba.

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)

Line-3’s Route Information

Line-3 – Aqua Line: Cuffe Parade – BKC – SEEPZ – Aarey Colony

Length: 33.5 km
Type: Underground & At-Grade
Depot: Aarey Colony (tentative; possibly Kanjurmarg pending court’s decision)
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)

Line-3’s Route Map

Line-3’s Status

As of December 2022, tunneling progress stands at 100% completion with all 42 TBM breakthroughs completed. Tunneling works on all 7 underground civil packages have been wrapped up:

Package UGC-01: Cuffe Parade – CST (4.25 km) – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM Surya-1 in May 2021
Package UGC-02: CST – Mumbai Central (4.049 km) – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM T59 (Vaitarna-2) in April 2020
Package UGC-03: Mumbai Central – Worli – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM 1238 (Tansa-1) in November 2022
Package UGC-04: Worli – Dharavi (6.08 km) – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM S1073 (Krishna-1) in December 2020
Package UGC-05: Dharavi – MVS near CSIA T1 (4.94 km) – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM S64 (Godavari-4) in August 2020
Package UGC-06: Santa Cruz MVS – CSI T2 (4.45km) – Final breakthrough recorded by T62 (Tapi 2) in February 2021.
Package UGC-07: CSIA T2 – Sariput Ramp (4.157 km) – Final breakthrough recorded by TBM D213 (Wainganga-2) in December 2019.

Fares (Ticket Prices)

Line-3’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.

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.

Line-3’s 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.

Page last updated: December 24, 2022. Have a question or spot an error? Let me know here.