Mumbai Metro Line 3, popularly known as the Aqua Line, has crossed a major milestone of 4 crores (40 million) passengers in April 2026.
The 33.5-km-long corridor, Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line, has witnessed a steep growth trajectory since its phased rollout.
Following the launch of Phase 1 between Aarey and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in late 2024, the line reached its first 1 crore riders in August 2025. Later expansions, including the extension to Acharya Atre Chowk and the full commissioning up to Cuffe Parade in October 2025, majorly boosted ridership numbers.
According to MMRC data, the corridor rapidly gained momentum thereafter, taking just two months to grow from 2 crores to 3 crore passengers and ultimately reaching the 4 crore mark within nine months of crossing the first milestone.
This surge is largely due to the line’s strategic connectivity, linking key commercial hubs such as BKC and SEEPZ with South Mumbai’s residential and business districts.
In a statement marking the milestone, MMRC thanked the Mumbaikars for their support under its #ConnectingTheUnconnected campaign, acknowledging the growing trust in the city’s expanding metro network. The corporation also indicated plans to further improve commuter experience through digital ticketing initiatives and targeted concessions.
The achievement highlights the rapid adoption of the corridor by Mumbaikars, who are increasingly opting for the metro over congested roads and overcrowded suburban trains.
The metro has also drastically reduced travel time for daily commuters, converting long, hour-plus journeys into shorter trips. Seamless integration with other modes of transport through the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) has further enhanced convenience and accessibility.