Pranav Birje | The News Bulletins
Mumbai, 9 October 2025: The Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ corridor), financed through Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially become fully operational with the inauguration of the final segment between Acharya Atre Chowk Station and Cuffe Parade Station.
The inauguration ceremony was held by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi at Navi Mumbai International Airport, in the august presence of the Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. ONO Keiichi ,the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Acharya Devvrat, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Eknath Shinde and Shri Ajit Pawar , among others.
With this milestone, all 26 underground stations and 1 above ground station across the 33.5 km corridor are now open to the public, marking a historic moment in the development of India’s urban infrastructure landscape. The complete opening allows uninterrupted transit from Aarey Station in the north to Cuffe Parade in the south, significantly boosting accessibility and reducing travel times across key commercial, residential, and transport hubs.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hon’ble Prime Minister described the underground metro as “a living symbol of a developing Bharat” and congratulated all the workers and engineers involved in the project for constructing underground metro in a busy city like Mumbai while ensuring the safety of its historic buildings.
Hon’ble Chief Minister expressed his pride in building largest underground metro in India overcoming various obstacles and conveyed gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for the assistance provided.
The project, implemented by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), was supported by Japanese ODA loans totalling JPY 354,132 million within an overall project cost of JPY 680,692 million. The final phase introduces 11 newly completed underground stations, significantly improving direct connectivity to South Mumbai’s central business district. Previously, during peak traffic hours, the journey from Mumbai international airport to Cuffe Parade Station in South Mumbai could take up to 2 hours. With this development, travel time has been reduced to approximately 45 minutes—representing a reduction of nearly 60%—offering a much faster and more efficient commute.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India said, “The successful completion of Mumbai Metro Line 3 is a testament to the deepening Japan–India cooperation in infrastructure development. This metro line exemplifies sustainable urban mobility and will play a pivotal role in improving daily commute for Mumbaikars.”
Line 3 stands as Mumbai’s first fully underground metro system, connecting SEEPZ to Cuff Parade via major landmarks including Bandra-Kurla Complex, Dharavi, Mumbai international airport, and MIDC. The metro incorporates inclusive commuter features like women-only cars, accessible platforms for differently abled, and high-grade surveillance systems across all stations and trains.
This final phase inauguration follows earlier commissioning in October 2024, highlighting the project as a symbol of national progress and urban transformation.