Maharashtra Govt to extend Mumbai Metro Line 3 till Navy Nagar

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): The Maharashtra Government is planning to extend under-construction 33.5 km Corridor 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) from Cuffe Parade to Navy Nagar which is currently accessible through road transport only. This announcement was made by the deputy chief minister and finance minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar during his 2022-23 Budget speech.

The ministry of defence had requested the state government to operate Metro-3 services from Navy Nagar. The proposal was referred to the executing agency, Mumbai Metro Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), whose board has given approval for the extension. The line will now be extended by 2.5 km in south Mumbai. The final terminal station in south Mumbai at Navy Nagar will come up near the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Centre (TIFR). The Navy Nagar has currently arround 1 lakh population.

The detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared after an agency is appointed. Thereafter, tenders will be floated for construction of 5 km (2.5 km each side, in the up and down directions) extension and the station. The MMRC have to spend around Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 crore on the extension.

According to MMRCL, it has completed around 97 percent of the tunnelling work, 80 percent work on the stations, and close to 23 percent on laying of tracks on 33.5 km underground corridor. The authority aims to begin trials of the metro trains on this corridor as they have developed a test track near Aarey.

Recently, the state government has transforred Ranjit Singh Deol, Managing Director of MMRCL and given his charge to present Metropolitan Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), SVR Srinivas. Srinivas after taking charge has inspected and reviewed the current ptogress of Mumbai Metro Line 3.

The Mumbai Metro Line 3 will now connect Navy Nagar to Seepz with a total distance of 36 km once the Navy Nagar extension approved. This line be Country's largest underground corridor once become operational.