Mumbai transport: Metro 3 ridership breaches 6 lakh mark in a month

The average ridership per day, however, stands at around 20,000, indicating commuters largely comprised joy riders

Mumbai: A month after the first phase of Metro 3 between Aarey JVLR and Bandra Kurla Complex was thrown open to commuters, the overall ridership on the line has surpassed the 600,000-mark. The average ridership per day, however, stands at around 20,000, indicating commuters largely comprised joy riders.

Mumbai's first underground Metro Line 3, the aqua line's phase-1, from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey, became operational for the public in October.(Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)

According to estimates drawn up by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), the entire 33.5-km Metro 3 corridor, once completed, will cater to 1.3 million riders per day. But data from MMRC shows that current ridership on the 12.44-km stretch between Aarey JVLR and Bandra Kurla Complex is way lesser than the projected figure. Between October 7 and November 5, the aqua line catered to 612,913 commuters.

“The highest ridership was recorded on the first Sunday following the commencement of commercial operations – that is on October 13 – when it reached 27,108,” said an MMRC official.

The most popular rides during weekdays are between Bandra Kurla Complex and Marol Naka, and between SEEPZ and Marol Naka. This has made Marol Naka the busiest station on the corridor. The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line, which intersects with Metro 3 at Marol Naka, has also witnessed a rise in commuters by around 4,000 passengers per day.

“NCMC is currently under testing and is expected to be launched in December 2024,” an MMRC official told HT.

MMRC is in the process of leasing out retail spaces at the 10 operational metro stations. Bids for the same have been received and they will be finalised shortly. “Retail stores should be up and running within the next couple of months,” said an MMRC official.