Why Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 is facing commuter backlash after launch

The much-anticipated launch of the final section of Mumbai’s Metro Aqua Line 3 was marred on its first day by a critical lack of mobile network connectivity and significant evening crowding, casting a shadow over the milestone event.

A total of 1,18,286 passengers had used the line by 7 pm, according to a Mid-Day report, overwhelming the new stations during peak hours.

The absence of an underground mobile signal emerged as the primary inconvenience for commuters. With ticketing apps rendered useless inside stations, passengers were forced to rely exclusively on cash transactions for purchasing journeys, creating bottlenecks and frustration.

The brand-new Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Metro station, a key interchange, faced particular scrutiny. Signboards indicating the station name were conspicuously absent, adding to initial confusion. Furthermore, the station was reportedly being used by pedestrians as a makeshift subway, raising concerns among officials that this trend could lead to security risks and defeat the purpose of controlled entry.

Mid-Day mentioned that a visual inspection found that several of the eleven newly inaugurated stations appeared dusty and unfinished, with work seemingly still pending. This observation was echoed by a commuter who remarked that the stations need “one more round of housekeeping before they can truly be called world-class.”

Security concerns extended beyond casual pedestrian access. While uniformed staff were visible for crowd control on concourses and platforms, there was little visible security presence inside the trains themselves.

The report also highlighted that upper-level road connections at CSMT appeared vulnerable and in need of constant surveillance. An additional worry was the potential for hawkers from the existing CSMT subway to spill into the Metro precincts, threatening the encroachment-free environment promised to commuters.

The crowding issue became acute enough to necessitate temporary measures. The Vidhan Bhavan Metro station was closed for a period due to overcrowding, reopening only after a pause of a few minutes once the situation was managed.

Despite the litany of teething problems, commuters acknowledged the fundamental benefits of the new line. The dramatic reduction in travel time and the smooth train rides were cited as significant positives.

This experience, however, was tempered by a feeling that the service lacked essential finishing touches, with one commuter, Srikant Joshi, telling Mid-Day that while the travel time and ride were excellent, Mumbai deserved a more polished final product.

His sentiment encapsulates the cautious optimism surrounding the new line, which is a major step forward for the city’s infrastructure, yet one that commuters feel has been launched before it was truly ready for the world stage.