Mumbai Metro Line 3: Trial Runs To Begin Next Week On City's First Underground Corridor

The eagerly anticipated Mumbai Metro 3, also known as the Aqua line, has reached a pivotal juncture in its development. Commencing this week, the project authorities will initiate loaded integrated trials on trains running the Phase 1 Aarey-Bandra Kurla route.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is the project implementing authority of the 33.5 km long Metro Line 3.

Up until now, dry runs with empty coaches were conducted to assess the metro's designed speeds of up to 95 km h. In the upcoming 'loaded trials,' each of the eight-car train's coaches will be filled with stone-filled gunny bags based on the train's tonnage capacity. This approach aims to evaluate the trains' performance under passenger weight before they commence regular service.

The loaded trials are set to begin and will continue for an extended period. Various factors will be meticulously documented during these runs, including the oscillation of the coaches on both straight tracks and curves.

"We aim to eliminate any potential for error before opening the line to the public, prioritising safety above all," stated a government official. "The trials are comprehensive, and subsequent inspections by the Research, Design and Safety Organisation (RDSO) and the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) will assess various parameters of Metro 3."

In a first for India, the Metro 3 features an eight-car train with a 75 per cent motor for enhanced operational efficiency and movement. This contrasts with other metro lines, which typically utilise 50 per cent motors. This unique feature is among the reasons prompting close scrutiny by authorities like the RDSO and CMRS during the trials before granting operational certification, reports Deccan Herald.

Project Status Update

The Metro 3 project stands at approximately 96 per cent completion. The remaining tasks primarily involve station beautification, final touches to stations and platforms, and miscellaneous finishing touches.

"We're also focusing on multimodal integration of stations, ensuring connectivity with other modes of public transport for last-mile connectivity," added a government official.

This includes well-designed footpaths outside stations, seating arrangements, and foot-over bridges where necessary, along with clear route indicators and signage.

Connectivity between Aarey Depot and the Metro 3 line, including the shunting neck, is fully established, facilitating unhindered movement of metro trains during trials. Sources indicate that work on Phase 2 of Metro 3 (BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk, Worli) is progressing well.

Furthermore, efforts are underway to secure the necessary certification to operate in automatic train operation (ATO) mode, as Metro 3 has the potential for unmanned operation if required.

First Underground Corridor

The 33.5-km long Metro-3 running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ is the first underground metro corridor of Mumbai.

It will connect the Cuffe Parade business district in the extreme south of the city to SEEPZ in the north-central area with 26 underground and one at-grade station.

With an estimated project cost of Rs 33,000 crore, the project has received funding from several entities, including Japan's technical and lending agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The first phase, connecting Aarey to BKC, is expected to commence operation in May, with the entire corridor to Cuffe Parade likely to open by September 2024.