A major communications setback has been triggered on Mumbai Metro Line 3 after the contract awarded to ACES India for telecom infrastructure services was terminated by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL). The underground corridor, stretching from Aarey to Cuffe Parade, had already been affected by inconsistent and incomplete mobile network availability. With the agreement now cancelled, the possibility of a full shutdown of mobile services across the line has been brought sharply into focus. It has been indicated by officials that the infrastructure installed by the company may also be removed, and as a result, the entire underground stretch could be left without signal coverage.
The crisis had not emerged suddenly but had instead been shaped by a prolonged dispute over pricing between ACES India and telecom service providers. Because commercial terms had not been accepted by all operators, the shared infrastructure model was not fully adopted. As a result, full-scale mobile coverage was never achieved across the route. Only partial service had been made available in selected stretches, and this too had been limited largely to subscribers of Vodafone Idea and BSNL. Even those remaining services are now expected to be disrupted after the contract termination, which has raised further concern among regular commuters.
An official from MMRCL was quoted as saying that “the earlier contractor failed to meet contractual obligations,” and it was stated that services had therefore been discontinued. It was also explained that the contract had been structured around a revenue-sharing arrangement. Under that model, an annual income of nearly ₹24 crore had been expected to be received by the corporation. That projected revenue will now not be realised, adding a financial setback to the operational problem already being faced on the corridor.
The deadlock had reportedly been worsened by the reluctance of telecom operators to participate under the pricing framework offered through the shared network. Instead of joining the common system, the option of creating separate infrastructure had been explored by some service providers. Because of this standoff, the broader rollout of seamless connectivity was delayed and the passenger experience remained compromised from the outset.
The impact of the termination has also been acknowledged by Vodafone Idea. A company spokesperson was quoted as saying that its services on the route had been affected because of the cancellation of ACES India’s contract, and it was added that efforts were being made in coordination with MMRCL to restore connectivity. However, no immediate timeline for restoration has been announced so far, and uncertainty continues to surround the availability of mobile signals on the corridor.
A fresh tender is now expected to be issued by MMRCL so that a new telecom infrastructure provider can be appointed. Until that process is completed and the system is restored, commuters travelling on Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line may be forced to manage with weak or no mobile connectivity at all. In a city where uninterrupted communication is increasingly treated as essential, the issue has not only been viewed as an inconvenience but has also been linked to safety concerns, particularly in emergency situations. As the situation develops, a quick and stable resolution will be expected by passengers who rely on the route every day.
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