The eagerly awaited first phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3, popularly known as the Aqua Line, connecting Aarey Colony to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), is on track to be operational early next year. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's Managing Director, Ashwini Bhide, announced on December 28 that they anticipate the Aarey-BKC route's initial phase to be ready for public use by April 2024.

As of November 30, 93.4% of the Aarey-BKC route's construction, including stations, tunnels, and overall infrastructure, had been completed. Notably, the MMRC has successfully conducted a 17-kilometre trial run at 30 kmph, with plans for 80 kmph trials in the coming months.

The entire Aarey-BKC-Colaba metro line, spanning 33.5 km, is expected to accommodate 1.7 million passengers daily, with phase-2 likely to be operational by October 2024. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is eagerly anticipating this major infrastructural development, set to transform daily commuting for millions.