On September 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the final stretch of Mumbai Metro 3 (Aqua Line). The line will connect Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli to Cuffe Parade. This news was announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It is expected to halve travel times on its corridor, making commuting faster, more reliable, and less expensive compared to road travel. From routes to fare, here’s everything you need to know.
PM Modi To Inaugurate The Final Stretch Of Mumbai Metro 3
Mumbai Metro 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is the city’s first fully underground metro corridor. It links major residential, business, and commercial hubs along Mumbai’s north-south axis.
The inauguration marks the culmination of a long-anticipated infrastructure milestone for the city, connecting north Mumbai’s Aarey JVLR to south Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade. The two will be connected through a fully underground metro line spanning 33.5 kilometers with 27 stations.
Mumbai Metro 3 Routes
- Phase 1: Aarey Colony to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), covering roughly 12.7 km. This phase, inaugurated in October 2024, serves stations including Aarey, SEEPZ, MIDC, domestic and international airport terminals, Santacruz, and BKC.
- Phase 2: BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk (Worli), a 9.8 km stretch opened in May 2025. Key stations include Dharavi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak Temple, and Worli.
- Phase 3 (Final stretch): Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade (about 11 km), including 11 major stations, namely Science Museum, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai Central, Grant Road, Kalbadevi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Churchgate, and Vidhan Bhavan. This final segment will be inaugurated by PM Modi on September 30, 2025.
Mumbai Metro Line 3 Aqua CSMT Station
📷 Haldilal pic.twitter.com/9FGfC7gmZU
— DNT (@haldilal) September 12, 2025
Construction Cost
The entire Metro 3 project has incurred significant investment, estimated at around INR 37,276 crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded about 60% of the cost, with the remaining financed jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra.
🌌 Witness the unseen!
An exclusive glimpse of the crossover facility at Cuffe Parade Metro Station – the epicenter of seamless metro movement ⚡🔄🚇
📸 Farha Irani#MumbaiMetro #HiddenEngineering #CuffeParade #BehindTheScenes pic.twitter.com/Zyq5SkiQNi— MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) September 17, 2025
Fare And Time Taken
The fare system for Mumbai Metro 3 is based on distance traveled, with a maximum fare cap of INR 70 for the full journey from Aarey to Cuffe Parade. The fare slabs are:
- INR 10 for 0–3 km
- INR 20 for 3–12 km
- INR 30 for 12–18 km
- INR 40 for 18–24 km
- INR 50 for 24–30 km
- INR 60 for 30–36 km
- Maximum fare capped at INR 70
For example, a trip from Worli to Cuffe Parade (about 12 km) costs INR 30, while Andheri to Mahalaxmi roughly costs INR 50. This fare structure aims to keep commuting affordable while maintaining financial sustainability.
The full journey of 33.5 km between Aarey and Cuffe Parade will take about 54 to 60 minutes. This will reduce travel time from the current 90 to 100 minutes needed by road during peak hours. South Mumbai connectivity will be boosted with the Worli to Cuffe Parade section reachable in roughly 15 minutes.
The metro will operate roughly from early morning (around 5:30 am) to late evening (10:30 or 11:30 pm). Trains will be running every 3 to 5 minutes during peak hours.
Summing Up
Mumbai Metro 3’s full operation is poised to revolutionize commuting in the city, integrate key transit hubs, reduce travel time, and provide an affordable and environmentally friendly transport alternative for Mumbai’s residents and visitors alike.
