Mumbai’s first underground metro line to launch this week

India's copmmercial hub Mumbai is to start its first underground metro line, the 'Aqua Line' (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), on July 24, aiming to ease the daily commute for the city's residents.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Vinod Tawde made the announcement on social media, highlighting the significant benefits of the 33.5 km route from Aarey Colony to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

The Aqua Line, which will greatly reduce traffic congestion, spans 33.5 km and houses 27 stations.

The project, overseen by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), has seen an investment of over 370 billion Indian rupees. Out of the 27 stations, 26 are underground.

Metro services will operate from 6.30am to 11.00pm local time, with frequent train arrivals. Trains will reach speeds up to 90 km/h, reducing a typically two-hour road journey to just 50 minutes by metro.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will manage the operation and maintenance of the Aqua Line, including the operation control centre, depot control centre, stations, running of trains, and maintenance of all metro infrastructure to ensure passenger safety.

The contract with DMRC is set for ten years.

While the first phase launches this month, the entire project, including the second tunnel phase, is expected to be completed within the next eight months, promising further improvements to Mumbai's transportation system.