23 September,2024 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Workers working at the Metro station in BKC. Pic/Ashish Raje
The phase one of Mumbai's first underground Metro Aqua Line-3 between Aarey and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), slated to begin functioning on October 4, will see all the stations on the route operating.
Sources said that the two airport stations, T1 and T2, will also open this year, and a special arrangement will be made for entry and exit. The larger station complex, is a part of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) - a scheme that aims to allow more development near metro stations which can benefit commuters. The station would be an inter-modal transportation hub for the under-construction Aqua Line-3, Red Line-7A and planned Airport Express Gold Line-8.
The Terminal-2 station will be two levels below the 6,45,835 square feet TOD building with India's tallest escalators and, three entry/exits at Andheri side.
The Aarey to BKC stretch has 10 stations (including the two airport ones) and there will be nine trains for use of which two will be kept away with one for regular maintenance, one as stand by and seven others in active passenger service, as per a presentation made by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide.
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The detailed plan includes running 260 round trip services (130 Aarey to BKC and 130 between BKC to Aarey) with operational time of 6am to 11pm (based on passenger response).
The 33.5-km-long Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 Corridor is a key project to improve the transportation scenario in the city with 26 underground stations.
The Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 integrates with the suburban railway, other Mumbai Metro lines and existing transport modes at around eight locations These include, besides the city's big rail termiii of Mumbai CSMT and Churchgate. Grant Road, Mumbai Central (also close to the MSRTC bus depot) and about a 10-minute walk from Dadar station. At Mahalaxmi, the line is close to the Monorail station and at BKC integrates with the Mumbai Metro Line 2-B and with Metro Line 1 with the Mumbai Metro Line 1.
