Mumbai’s underground Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, has increased its weekday services by 46 trips to accommodate rising commuter demand. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has raised the number of daily weekday services from 291 to 337, with the revised schedule coming into effect on November 2.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, the additional services have improved train frequency during peak hours. The interval between successive trains has been shortened from four minutes and 50 seconds to four minutes and 25 seconds, helping passengers spend less time waiting at stations.
The expansion comes amid growing ridership on the underground corridor, which connects Aarey JVLR in north-central Mumbai with Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai.
The MMRC reported that the Aqua Line recorded 7,20,88,738 cumulative passenger journeys during its first year of operating across the entire route. In September 2026, average daily ridership stood at 2,24,602 on weekdays and 1,31,138 on weekends.
The latest addition follows a series of gradual increases in services after operations began across the full corridor. The number of daily trips was initially raised to 271, followed by 282 services on June 23 and 291 on September 28.
With the latest revision, the corporation aims to manage increasing passenger volumes, ease congestion during busy periods and improve the overall commuting experience through more frequent train availability.
However, the revised schedule applies only to weekdays. Weekend train operations will continue under the existing separate timetable.
The MMRC has also indicated that it will regularly assess passenger numbers and operational requirements before deciding on further service improvements. Additional trips may be introduced depending on future demand and the corridor’s operating needs.
Source: The Free Press Journal
