MUMBAI (Metro Rail & Steel): The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has finalized the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the extension of the underground Metro Line 3, spanning up to Navy Nagar, covering a five-kilometer stretch (2.5 km in each direction). An official has confirmed that the DPR is currently pending approval from the state government.
The decision to elongate Metro 3 to Navy Nagar was initially disclosed during the 2022-23 budget speech by the former Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The proposal stemmed from a request made by the Indian Navy office to the state government. The expansion is anticipated to significantly benefit the inhabitants of this densely populated area, including residential quarters for central government employees and others.
According to the official, construction for the extended Metro line is scheduled to commence in 2025, post the completion and initiation of commercial operations of the existing Metro Line 3. The present underground metro, spanning over 33 km, links Colaba to SEEPZ via Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and is divided into Phase 1 (BKC to SEEPZ) and Phase 2 (BKC to Colaba) for operation.
MMRC has procured nine train sets for the seamless operation of Phase 1, which was initially slated for completion by the end of the current year but is now expected to commence early next year. Phase 2 operations are projected to begin in 2024. In a significant development this October, MMRC conducted the first long-distance train movement from MIDC to Vidyanagari Metro station and back to SEEPZ, covering a distance of 17 km, a part of Phase 1 operations. Previously, trial runs were conducted on a three-kilometer stretch between Sariput Nagar Aarey and Marol, starting from August last year.
Presently, MMRC’s primary focus is on laying tracks for the remaining part of Phase 1. Following this, they plan to proceed with the installation of overhead electrical lines in both directions, paving the way for trial runs on the entire Phase 1 stretch between Aarey and BKC stations.
