A post on social media platform X has sparked a debate over the Mumbai Metro 3’s early morning frequency, particularly for passengers arriving at the Mumbai airport. An X user shared his disappointing experience after a long flight, saying he was excited to take the metro from the airport but was met with a 27-minute wait for the next train to Marol.
“If you’re starting the metro at 5:30 a.m. to help airport passengers, it won’t work without proper frequency,” the user wrote. “After 14 hours of travel, I bought my ticket, entered the station, only to find the next train to Marol arriving in 27 minutes. Google said I could reach home in 22. I walked out and took a cab instead.”
Issues with Ticketing and Connectivity
The traveller also complained about the ticket kiosks not working, poor network connectivity for UPI payments, and the lack of card payment options. “None of the kiosks worked; had to get the ticket from the info desk. Weak network for UPI, only had euros, luckily got change later, only to waste it,” the user added.
He promised to share suggestions to improve the system in a later post, noting that “when a plane lands every minute at Mumbai airport, having a 15–30-minute headway is insane.”
Mixed Reactions from Metro Users
The post quickly drew mixed responses from other users. One person pointed out that metro timings are available on the Metro 3 app and the M-indicator app, suggesting that passengers should check before boarding.
However, the original poster countered, “As a tourist, what do I know about the Metro 3 app? Where am I going to get Internet connection from? It’s not like Madrid metro with free Wi-Fi.”
Another user defended the metro, saying, “It clearly says 6.42 am for the first metro and 10-minute frequency at T2. Your tweet is misrepresenting facts.”
Call for Better Accessibility
A separate comment raised a broader point about payment accessibility. “I have never understood why we can’t enable debit and credit cards on metros. Let people tap Visa, Mastercard, Rupay or Amex and directly enter. You save space and queues. Mumbai gets travellers from around the world, the metro should be tourist-friendly.”
Many agreed that while Mumbai Metro 3 is a much-needed transport link, improving frequency, ticketing, and payment options will be key to making it truly world-class, especially for airport passengers and international travellers.
