Aqua Line 3 gets fast-tracked with Rs 33,000 cr backing

The 33.5 kilometre long underground metro railway Aqua Line 3, connecting North and South Mumbai, is one of the most ambitious and challenging metro rail infrastructure projects in Mumbai, being carried out by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited at a cost of Rs 330 billion. The project has been prioritized and is expected to be completed by June 2024. It will be totally underground and will connect the city's financial hubs Nariman Point, Bandra Kurla Complex, Fort, Worli, Lower Parel, and Goregaon via the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor. The first phase, from Aarey to Bandra-Kurla Complex, is expected to be completed by December this year, and the second phase, from BKC to Cuffe Parade, by June next year. The project has received finance from a variety of sources, including Japan's technical and financial agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, which has committed around Rs 12,750 crore in Official Development Assistance for the project. JICA senior officials recently visited the Aqua Line 3 MIDC station under construction to examine the continuing construction work. The metro line would serve more than 16 lakh commuters every day, reducing travel time. The entirely underground North-South metro line, when completed, will feature 27 stations and interchange points connecting with the city's famous suburban train, Monorail, and 'Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar' Metro-1, Metro 2B, and Metro 6. See also: Mumbai's Underground Metro Project to Finish by June 202460% of track laying work completed in Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Corridor