July 29, 2025: With the full commissioning of Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, expected in August, city planners are now shifting focus from simply transporting people underground to creating a more walkable and commuter-friendly Mumbai. Officials are working on an ambitious vision to link Metro stations with surrounding destinations such as office complexes, shopping malls, parks, and even the coastline through a citywide network of pedestrian subways.
On Monday evening, senior officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Indian Railways met at the BMC headquarters to discuss strategies for enhancing last-mile connectivity around the Metro network. The talks centred on integrating pedestrian infrastructure with the city’s rapidly growing underground transit system.
Metro Line 3 is Mumbai’s first fully underground corridor, covering 33.5 kilometres from Aarey in the north to Cuffe Parade in the south. The operational section between Aarey and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) currently sees a footfall of nearly 60,000 passengers daily. The corridor passes through key commercial and transit hubs, including Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Churchgate, CSMT, and BKC.
One of the first pedestrian projects under consideration is a one-kilometre subway connecting Acharya Atre Chowk Metro station to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road’s parking facility at Haji Ali. A 160-metre branch is also being planned to link nearby open spaces. Officials from BMC and MMRCL have been working on alignment plans since June.
A detailed project report (DPR) is expected within four months. The proposed subways—equipped with escalators and lifts—aim to connect high-density commercial areas within a 500-metre to one-kilometre radius of Metro stations. If implemented successfully, this initiative could ease surface congestion, encourage walking, and significantly enhance urban mobility in Mumbai.
Source: Times Of India
