Mumbai Metro Line 3: Trial Train Reaches Cuffe Parade, Marking Major Milestone For Aqualine

In a significant step towards the completion of Mumbai’s first underground Metro line, a trial train reached Cuffe Parade station on Friday, marking a major milestone for the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC). This development signals substantial progress in infrastructure readiness, paving the way for full-scale operations by July, 2025.

The Aqualine, spanning 33.5 km, has already seen partial operations, with a 12.69 km stretch between Aarey JVLR and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) opening on October 7, 2024. Meanwhile, system trials for Phase 2A, covering 9.77 km from Dharavi to Acharya Atrey Chowk, are underway, connecting seven key stations.

The latest trial at Cuffe Parade covers a 10.99 km section from Acharya Atrey Chowk, marking a crucial step in the commissioning of Phase 2B. With major components like the Overhead Catenary System (OCS) and track installation completed, MMRC is now focused on system fitments, architectural finishing, and road restoration to ensure full operational readiness.

Commenting on the achievement, MMRC Managing Director Ashwini Bhide said, “Today is a crucial day for us as we move closer to completing another challenging milestone. Train trials for Phase 2A from Dharavi to Acharya Atrey Chowk are progressing well, and now, we have successfully initiated train movement toward Cuffe Parade. We remain committed to commissioning the entire line by July 2025.”

Echoing this sentiment, MMRC Director (Projects) S. K. Gupta emphasized the organization’s commitment to delivering a seamless and efficient metro service. “The successful train trials reaffirm our progress, bringing Mumbai one step closer to a world-class urban transit system,” he said.

With trial runs in full swing, MMRC is steadily advancing toward its goal of transforming Mumbai’s public transport landscape, promising faster and more reliable connectivity for commuters.