No signal on Aqua Line 3! Mumbai Metro commuters face disruption amid telecom dispute

Mumbai Metro’s newly launched underground Aqua Line 3 experienced a full mobile network shutdown on Wednesday, affecting all major telecom providers—Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea. Commuters travelling between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli reported complete loss of connectivity once underground, leading to serious inconvenience for those relying on mobile phones for ticketing, payments, and communication. 

As a workaround, MMRC advised commuters to download the Metro Connect 3 app. It supports offline ticket access if QR codes are preloaded. Notices across stations also directed passengers to manned ticket counters accepting cash payments. 

MMRC stated it had followed a transparent bidding process to appoint a neutral telecom infrastructure provider for the line. The selected agency holds a valid licence and has completed infrastructure deployment, following models used in airports and metro systems across India.

In a statement, MMRC clarified, “Letters of support were received from telecom operators during the tendering process. Any claims of irregularities are unfounded.”

However, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) claims that telcos had jointly offered to install a common In-Building Solution (IBS) at no cost to MMRC. The request was reportedly denied due to the metro authority’s insistence on a separate tender process. This deadlock appears to be the reason behind the ongoing blackout.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, mid-day conducted an on-ground check, travelling from Aarey JVLR to Worli. All networks remained non-functional throughout the underground stretch. Mobile signals disappeared upon entry into metro premises and returned only once commuters resurfaced. Screens displayed “No Service” and “Call Failed”. Many commuters were forced to take screenshots of QR codes or rely on offline ticket options.