With fewer than 20k daily passengers, Mumbai Metro 3 falls 95% short of 400k ridership projection

Mumbai's ambitious Aqua Line (Metro 3), the city's first underground metro corridor, has fallen significantly short of ridership expectations since its launch in October 2024. The 12.44 -kilometre stretch connecting Bandra Kurla Complex to Aarey Colony has attracted only 2.66 million passengers in its first four and a half months of operation, averaging fewer than 20,000 daily riders—a mere fraction of its projected 400,000 daily ridership.

Inaugurated on October 5,2024, the metro was expected to revolutionise Mumbai's transit system. Operating from early morning until 10:30 PM, it experiences a surge in passengers during peak hours but sees minimal footfall throughout the day. However, data from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) reveals a stark reality—over 136 days the line completed 29,162 trips, averaging just 91 passengers per trip or 46 per service. With each eight-coach train capable of carrying 2,500 passengers, the current ridership is a fraction of its capacity.

MMRC officials attribute the low numbers to the corridor’s partial operation, expressing optimism that ridership will improve once the full 33.5 km Aarey–BKC–Cuffe Parade corridor becomes operational by June 2025. Despite the lukewarm response, the Aqua Line boasts a 99.60% punctuality rate, showcasing its efficiency.

As Mumbai awaits the metro’s full launch, efforts to boost awareness and convenience will be key to transforming the Aqua Line into the city’s transit backbone.