Mumbai Metro 3: PM Modi To Unveil New Aqual Line, But Last Mile Connectivity Still Lags

The much-anticipated Aqua Line of Mumbai Metro, which connects Aarey with the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. However, it will take at least one more month to establish the last mile connectivity with other public transport options, such as buses, auto-rickshaws, and taxis. This delay is due to the absence of designated stands near the 10 metro stations along the 12.44-kilometre route, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

Maharashtra transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar stated, "We have finalised the routes and the number of stands needed for various modes of transport and have even notified possible fares. However, we will wait and study the travel patterns of passengers entering and leaving stations on the Metro 3 route to understand their requirements and finalise plans."

Photo Credit: PTI

The Aqua Line connects several key business and commercial districts, including BKC, Marol, SEEPZ, and both terminals of the international airport, as well as the University of Mumbai. Since these locations are not serviced by other mass public transit systems, both the BEST Undertaking and the transport department are working on a comprehensive plan for interchange facilities at stations along the route, according to sources in the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).

However, auto-rickshaw unions have raised concerns that the transport department and regional transport offices do not seem to be taking the establishment of separate stands for regular and shared autos seriously. KK Tiwari, an auto and taxi union leader, noted, "At least 50 stands were proposed to improve last mile connectivity on the Metro 2A and Metro 7 routes. But they have not seen the light of day."

Transport expert AV Shenoy, a member of the Mumbai Mobility Forum, echoed these concerns. He stated, "The authorities should learn from the example of Metro 2A and Metro 7, where the lack of last mile connectivity has contributed to lower than expected footfall. Proper provision should be made for stands and bus stops along the Metro 3 corridor."

Both Tiwari and Shenoy emphasised that the Aqua Line stations are situated far from suburban railway stations and existing shared auto stands, creating an urgent need to bridge this gap. Such improvements would help reduce cases of fare refusals, which are common in BKC and surrounding areas.

Sources from the BEST Undertaking reported that at least 85 to 90 bus routes currently pass through the Metro 3 corridor, with some routes connecting a few metro stations and running at intervals of 7 to 15 minutes. For example, 20 and 14 bus routes pass through the Marol and SEEPZ stations, respectively, while 9 to 12 routes serve BKC, Sahar Road, and the two airport terminal stations. BEST plans to assess the demand from various Metro 3 stations before enhancing these routes or introducing new ones.

On September 24, MMRC chief Ashwini Bhide confirmed that they have sought collaboration from other government agencies to establish last mile connectivity at Metro 3 stations.

Meanwhile, transport experts have expressed concern that the Aarey-BKC route may not attract many passengers, as the Andheri (W) - Dahisar stretch on Metro 2A and the Dahisar (E) - Gundavali stretch on Metro 7 serve as alternatives to the Aqua Line. They pointed out that reaching Aarey station on the Aqua Line poses an additional challenge, as commuters would need to take an auto from either Mogra station (Line 7) or Marol station (Line 1) to reach there.