Mumbai’s long-awaited Metro 3 expansion is already making waves. The newly opened underground stretch from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Acharya Atre Chowk welcomed 26,758 commuters by 8 p.m. on Saturday, a significant rise compared to the 15,911 passengers counted the previous Friday, when the line operated only till BKC.
For residents along the route, especially in areas like Mahim, the metro has brought welcome relief from daily traffic chaos. A group of Mahim locals boarded the metro from the new Sitaladevi Mandir station over the weekend. Among them, Irfan Macchiwala shared, “We’re truly impressed by the modern infrastructure, smooth travel experience, and air-conditioned coaches. Metro 3 has changed the way we commute. It’s faster, cleaner, and gives us a break from the crowded roads and local trains.”
Commuters also took to social media to share their feedback with the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL). One user on X (formerly Twitter), Amey, appreciated the metro but pointed out a few issues like faulty signboards and a lack of dustbins at the exits. Another user, Melville D’Souza, praised the metro ride but highlighted signage errors—particularly confusion between Exit A2 and Exit A3 at Siddhivinayak Station.
To encourage more people to use public transport, MMRCL has tied up with Phoenix Palladium Mall in Lower Parel. A free shuttle service now runs from Acharya Atre Chowk Metro Station to the mall, helping bridge the gap in last-mile connectivity.
This latest expansion adds 9.77 km to the existing Aarey–JVLR–BKC route, introducing six new stations: Dharavi, Sitaladevi Mandir, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, Worli, and Acharya Atre Chowk. The full 33.5 km line, stretching up to Cuffe Parade, is expected to be operational by mid-August.
In more metro news, trial runs for Metro Line 9 running from Dahisar East to Bhayandar are set to begin next week. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that the first trials between Dahisar East and Kashigaon will kick off soon, with the 4.5-km segment likely to open by year-end. This stretch, part of the larger Metro 9 line, will eventually connect to Line 10 as well.
