'Felt like Japan': Japanese expat reviews Mumbai’s new Aqua Line after first journey

She highlighted the metro’s clean and spacious stations, the availability of a women-only coach, and the overall sense of order and punctuality.

Mumbai introduced its first entirely underground metro corridor this month with the completion of Metro Line 3, also referred to as the Aqua Line, linking Aarey in the north to Cuffe Parade in the south. The final stretch of the project was inaugurated on 8 October by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 33.5-kilometre line, developed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 37,270 crore. Work began in 2017, and at its peak involved a workforce of more than 15,000. The corridor comprises 27 underground stations and connects several key commercial and transport nodes, including Bandra, the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Nariman Point, Fort, Churchgate, and both terminals of Mumbai’s domestic and international airports.

Soon after the opening, a video posted online by a Japanese expatriate living in Mumbai attracted significant attention for documenting her first experience using the new metro. The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “A Japanese expat living in Mumbai tries the newly built aqua line of Mumbai Metro, and she finds it the most reliable mode of transportation."

In the clip, the commuter began by inviting viewers to join her on the journey, saying, “Come take the new Mumbai Metro Line with me for the first time.” She explained that she had initially planned to drive home until Google Maps showed a travel time of around one and a half hours by car. “So, I thought, why not try the new metro instead? And see what was up,” she remarked.

While travelling, she observed that the route passed through several key points in the city, including Bandra, BKC and the airport. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “Honestly, I kid you not, I felt like I was back in Japan – clean, safe and perfectly on time.”

A Japanese expat living in Mumbai tries the newly built aqua line of Mumbai Metro, and she finds it the most reliable mode of transportation pic.twitter.com/Sa6SBmZHNa

— Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch) October 15, 2025

She highlighted the metro’s clean and spacious stations, the availability of a women-only coach, and the overall sense of order and punctuality. A regular user of public transport in different cities, she said the comfort and reliability of the Aqua Line stood out to her.

During her commute, she met another passenger named Vijay, whom she described as “Vijay-san”, noting that both were travelling to Andheri. “We ended up chatting for almost an hour, which made the ride even better,” she recalled. Upon reaching Andheri, she switched lines after a short five-minute walk and completed her journey home. “Still reached faster than I would’ve reached by car. Honestly, a girlie who’s taken public transport most of her life – it felt really good,” she added.

The expatriate concluded her account by underlining the role of public transport in shaping a liveable city. “I always say a city with good public transport and walkable streets is doing something right. So, Mumbai – you’re definitely on the right track...let’s just speed it up a bit. But first Mumbai metro experience? Great success,” she said.

Online, viewers reacted with a mix of appreciation and doubt. One user wrote, “I think reliable public transit is absolutely game-changing for any traveller, especially in a bustling place like Mumbai. When you aren’t stressed about getting from point A to point B, you can truly focus on soaking up the local culture and enjoying those unexpected moments.”

Another user commented simply, “Good to see such development.” Others shared their own experiences, with one person noting, “True. I also travelled today from the airport to Kalbadevi. Best experience.”

However, some users urged patience before assessing long-term reliability. “If it’s only just opened, it is too early to decide whether it is reliable or not. Looks nice, though. Let’s revisit in a few months,” one user remarked.