August 14, 2025: Work on a dedicated underground subway linking the upcoming Vidhan Bhavan Metro Station on Metro Line 3 to Mantralaya, the New Administrative Building, and Vidhan Bhavan is advancing steadily, with completion scheduled for December 2025.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), responsible for the underground Metro Line 3 project, confirmed that the 306-metre passage will provide seamless access between the Nariman Point metro station and key state government offices. Current progress figures show piling works fully completed, excavation at 59%, tunnelling using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) at 74%, and structural works at 24%.
The project experienced delays after the state home department raised security concerns, halting work for a period. Activity resumed in December 2022 once all necessary approvals were granted. First proposed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2019 between the Public Works Department (PWD) and MMRCL, the scheme envisages two separate passages — one exclusively for government personnel and another for members of the public visiting administrative offices.
In line with MMRCL’s wider connectivity plans, the subways will feed directly into the unpaid concourse areas of metro stations, enabling passengers to purchase tickets after entry. The initiative aims to offer commuters safe, all-weather, and traffic-free access, thereby easing surface congestion in the busy Nariman Point area.
When operational, the Vidhan Bhavan–Mantralaya subway is expected to significantly reduce walking times between the metro station and major administrative hubs, benefiting thousands of government staff and daily visitors. Officials believe it will also enhance security and efficiency in the movement of people within Mumbai’s core administrative district.
Source: The Free Press Journal
