Mumbai’s long-awaited underground Aqua Line Metro finally hit the tracks on October 9, 2025, and it did so with a bang. The sleek 33.5-kilometer corridor connecting Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR ferried 156,456 passengers on its first day a figure that far exceeded official projections and set a new benchmark for metro openings in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the high-profile project in a grand ceremony at Mumbai’s Aarey Depot, calling it a “transformative step toward modern, sustainable mobility for the city that never stops.”
For a city known for endless traffic jams and overburdened suburban trains, the Aqua Line promises a new rhythm faster, quieter, and greener.
A Game Changer Beneath the City
The new metro corridor is Mumbai’s first fully underground line, stretching 33.5 kilometers with 27 stations, and designed to move over 800,000 passengers daily once fully operational.
The line connects some of the city’s busiest zones Cuffe Parade, Fort, Worli, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), SEEPZ, and Aarey cutting travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs from nearly 90 minutes to just 40.
An engineer at the Aarey station, still visibly exhausted from the launch chaos, said with a smile,
“We expected around one lakh riders at most, but the response blew everyone’s mind. By evening, the platforms were full, and the trains kept coming every four minutes.”
Commuters, too, shared the excitement. Many posted pictures on social media, calling the Aqua Line “Mumbai’s new heartbeat” and “a piece of Tokyo under the Arabian Sea.”
PM Modi’s Message: ‘A Modern Mumbai for a New Bharat’
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that infrastructure projects like the Aqua Line “reflect the aspirations of every Mumbaikar who dreams of punctuality and progress.”
He added,
“This is not just a metro corridor it’s a symbol of the new Bharat we are building. It connects homes, offices, and hearts, while reducing pollution and congestion.”
Modi also praised the engineers and metro staff who worked through the pandemic and monsoon seasons to complete the project’s underground sections.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has been testing the line for months, and after several safety clearances, it was deemed ready for public service.
Green Future or Old Ghosts? The Aarey Debate Returns
But amid the celebrations, old debates resurfaced. The line’s depot at Aarey Colony once the epicenter of massive environmental protests in 2019 has again found itself in the headlines.
Activists have long argued that the construction harmed the delicate Aarey ecosystem, known as Mumbai’s “green lung.” However, the MMRCL maintains that compensatory afforestation and eco-friendly designs have minimized damage.
Interestingly, the revival of the Aarey controversy took an unexpected turn online when columnist Shobhaa De, who had opposed the project in 2019, tweeted in praise of the new metro’s design and efficiency.
Her post read: “Rode the new Aqua Line today spectacular work! Feels like world-class Mumbai has finally arrived.”
The reaction was swift and sharp. Environmental groups accused her of “hypocrisy,” while others defended her, saying people can change their minds once the benefits become visible.
“We protested because we feared blind destruction,” said environmentalist Priya Patil. “But now that the project exists, we can still demand accountability without denying progress.”
Ridership and Early Response
According to data released by MMRCL, the line recorded 156,456 passengers on its opening day, generating nearly ₹32 lakh in fare revenuewell above expectations.
Stations like Bandra-Kurla Complex, Marol Naka, and Cuffe Parade saw the highest footfall, while several first-time metro users praised the train’s smooth ride, digital ticketing, and temperature-controlled cabins.
Riders also appreciated the line’s seamless integration with existing routes like Metro Line 1 (Versova–Ghatkopar) and Line 2A/7 (Dahisar–Andheri).
MMRCL Managing Director Ashwini Bhide said in a statement,
“The overwhelming response shows that Mumbaikars are ready to embrace public transport if it’s fast, safe, and reliable. We’re confident ridership will cross two lakh per day within a week.”
The Engineering Feat Beneath Mumbai’s Chaos
Building a fully underground metro in a coastal megacity like Mumbai was no small task. Engineers battled constant water seepage, high population density, and complex utility lines all while keeping existing roads and infrastructure functional.
The line’s tunnel boring machines (TBMs), nicknamed Krishna, Wainganga, and Mula, worked tirelessly beneath the city’s foundations, carving through basalt and clay for nearly five years.
Each station features advanced ventilation systems, energy-efficient LED lighting, and platform screen doors for passenger safety a first for Mumbai’s metro network.
Citizens React: ‘Finally, a Metro That Feels Mumbai’
From college students to daily office-goers, everyone seems to have a story from launch day.
“I work at Fort and live in Jogeshwari. I reached home in 42 minutes instead of my usual hour and a half,” said commuter Ritesh Mehra, adding that he plans to shift from his car to the metro full-time.
Another rider, software engineer Nandini Shah, said she was surprised by the cleanliness and punctuality. “It didn’t feel like India. It felt global,” she smiled.
Social media flooded with videos of gleaming platforms, selfie booths at stations, and families taking their first metro ride together. For many, it was more than just transport it was an experience.
Looking Ahead
The Aqua Line’s success is expected to reshape Mumbai’s public transport map. Urban planners believe that once feeder services, skywalks, and interchange links are completed, metro ridership could jump exponentially.
Future phases aim to extend connectivity to Borivali in the north and Navi Mumbai in the east, forming a metro web that could eventually carry five million passengers daily across the city.
Still, challenges remain. Last-mile connectivity, ticket affordability, and ongoing construction delays on connecting corridors will test MMRCL’s long-term strategy.
But for now, the mood is undeniably upbeat. After years of delays, legal battles, and public skepticism, Mumbai finally has a metro line that lives up to its promise fast, futuristic, and deeply needed.
As one passenger wrote online:
“For the first time, Mumbai is moving underground and moving forward.”