MUMBAI (Metro Rail & Steel): The forthcoming Mumbai Metro Line 3’s Cuffe Parade station, slated to be an underground marvel, is gearing up to unveil a transformative feature – a sunken plaza resembling a mini-mall, alongside a designated parking area. This innovative concept of a sunken plaza aims to serve as a multifunctional public space for social gatherings and events while enhancing the station’s aesthetic appeal.
Spread across an expansive 2.8 lakh square feet, the Cuffe Parade Metro station will boast a three-tiered structure, featuring distinct levels to accommodate various facilities and streamline commuter movement. Part of the extensive Colaba-BKC-Aarey Corridor, the Mumbai Metro Line 3 project is set to inaugurate its phases between February and May 2024, offering commuters swift travel solutions and alleviating traffic congestion. The route is anticipated to significantly reduce travel time between Nariman Point and Worli to a mere 10 minutes upon its operationalization.
In a recent media address, Ashwini Bhide, the Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), highlighted the pivotal role of the Metro in the city’s future, envisioning it as the lifeline of Mumbai in the years to come. Emphasizing their ambitious plans, Bhide outlined intentions to expand Metro services across Mumbai by 2040, building upon the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) blueprint comprising 14 lines encompassing a vast 357-kilometer stretch laid out in 2004.
Notably, Bhide has been instrumental in leading the 33.5-kilometer-long Metro 3 project, focusing on its progression and timely completion. Updating on the project’s status, she mentioned that the Aarey to BKC route, constituting the initial phase, is nearing completion and is expected to commence operations in the coming months. Following closely, the BKC-Colaba second phase is slated to begin approximately six to seven months after the inauguration of the first phase.
