Mumbai gets first underground Metro with Aqua Line inauguration | Fusion - WeRIndia

After eight years in the making, Mumbai celebrated the inauguration of its first underground Metro on Saturday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the initial phase of the Aqua Line Metro.

This 12.44-km stretch will operate between Aarey and the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The entire route is 33.5 km, which connects Cuffe Parade, BKC, and Aarey Colony. It is expected to be fully operational by March 2025.

As part of the inaugural event, the Prime Minister rode the new Metro from BKC to Santacruz and back. He was accompanied by Metro construction workers and beneficiaries of the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Starting Monday at 11 am, Mumbai residents can access the Aqua Line, with regular services running from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm beginning the next day.

Construction of the underground Metro began in January 2017 and involved some of the city’s busiest areas.

The completion of the Aqua Line marks a significant milestone in Mumbai’s evolving transport infrastructure, which aims to alleviate congestion and improve connectivity.

PM Modi visited Thane before the inauguration of the metro in Mumbai. He performed the Bhoomi puja there for a couple of projects.

During his speech, Modi highlighted the progress made under the current government in modernizing Mumbai’s transport system, including the ongoing construction of around 300 km of Metro lines.

He also mentioned major infrastructure projects like the Thane-Borivali twin tunnel, Versova-Bandra Coastal Road, and the Eastern Freeway extension.

The Prime Minister criticized the previous government for delaying the Metro 3 project by two and a half years. He said that it led to a cost escalation of ₹14,000 crores.

With Maharashtra gearing up for the Assembly elections, the newly launched Aqua Line Metro is being viewed as a crucial enhancement to Mumbai’s transport network, potentially influencing voter sentiments.

Image Credit: Nicholas (Nichalp), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metro_subway_in_Mumbai.jpg