Phase 1 of India’s longest underground Metro project in Mumbai will be thrown open to commuters by December this year for travel between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Aarey Colony.

Phase I of the project has nine stations and will serve major employment hubs in Mumbai like MIDC and Seepz in Andheri (East), BKC and the airport. MMRC plans to operate 110 services on the 12km section, with a travel time of 25 minutes.

Times Now cited Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) managing director Ashwini Bhide as saying: “We hope that Phase I will be commissioned this year as all work is on track. The target to commission Phase I is December 2023, but the date could be in March 2024 as well.”

Mumbai Metro Aqua Line or Line 3 as it is also called will be 33.5km long with 27 stations starting from Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai to Aarey Colony in the north.

It will reduce congestion on the existing suburban lines, trains on which are jampacked with commuters during peak working hours.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has emerged as the “lowest bidder” to operate and maintain the 33.5-km Line 3 of the Mumbai Metro..

DMRC outbid Keolis, a reputable public transport operator from France with experience functioning in various cities across the world, the statement said.

Delhi Metro, besides running its own range of corridors, also operates the Rapid Metro in Gurgaon. It built the Kochi Metro, Jaipur Metro and the Noida Metro.

Mumbai-Metro Line 3 is primarily slated to be an underground line which was announced as a Joint Venture between the Centre and the state government on a 50:50 sharing basis. The metro line’s construction plan was approved in 2018 with an investment of Rs 23,136 crore.

JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is providing a loan of Rs. 13,235 crores for the project with a 30-year repayment period.