Mumbai's metro network is expanding, bringing enhanced connectivity to the city and its surrounding areas. Recent developments include the extension of Metro Line 3 and the commencement of trial runs for Metro Line 9.
The Colaba-Bandra-Aarey Metro Line 3 has been extended to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli. The newly inaugurated second phase, stretching from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Worli, has witnessed a significant increase in ridership. Over the weekend, more than 65,000 commuters used the Phase 2A section of Metro 3. On Sunday, 32,725 passengers traveled on the Aqua Line from Aarey JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk by 8:00 PM, which is a notable increase compared to Saturday's figure. The extended section, commissioned on Saturday, recorded a ridership of 32,791 on its first day. Of these, 16,377 passengers traveled between BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk.
The extension provides seamless north-south connectivity, enabling commuters to travel directly from Aarey to Worli without needing to transfer. The operational segment of Metro Line 3 now connects Aarey, Seepz, BKC, both airport terminals, Dharavi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak Temple, and Acharya Atre Chowk. This enhanced connectivity is expected to reduce travel time and ease congestion on roads and railways. The entire 32.5 km Colaba-Bandra-Aarey stretch is expected to open by August.
The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety approved the BKC-Worli stretch, marking the final milestone before its commissioning. The BKC-Worli section promises to cut travel time between these hubs to just 36 minutes. Since the launch of the Aarey-BKC phase in October 2024, Metro Line 3 has seen an average daily ridership of 25,000. The authorities anticipate that the ridership will increase significantly with the southern extension covering densely populated commercial and residential areas.
Meanwhile, Mira Road is on track to get its first Metro connection by the end of this year. Metro Line 9, which extends the Red Line 7 from Dahisar East to Mira Bhayandar, has started dynamic train trials. The energization of the 25,000V overhead traction wires across a 4.97-km stretch from Dahisar East to Kashigaon will power this testing phase. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued public notices, urging residents to remain cautious around the Metro route during energization and testing activities.
In the initial operational stretch, four stations—Dahisar East, Pandurang Wadi, Mira Gaon, and Kashigaon—will open for commuters. The remaining four, Sai Baba Nagar, Meditya Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Garden, and Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium, are planned for the second phase. Once completed, the corridor will provide direct Metro connectivity from Andheri (Western Express Highway) to Bhayandar West. Over 85 percent of civil and system works on Metro Line 9 are complete. The start of testing signals the next phase in making the line operational. The new Metro route is expected to ease pressure on the Western Railway and improve transport access in Mira Bhayandar.
The Kashigaon Metro station lies 1.4 km east of the existing Mira Road Western Railway station, highlighting the need for improved last-mile connectivity between the two transit hubs. The Mira Road Western Railway station is also being revamped under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3A). A 158.5-metre long elevated deck is under construction, accompanied by two new foot overbridges and extended platforms. The deck-level grid will integrate escalators, elevators, and multiple entry points to streamline passenger flow.
