Commuters cut off on underground Metro as network blackout continues. The Aqua Line is caught in a standoff over telecom infrastructure. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) claims all three providers had jointly offered to install a common In-Building Solution (IBS) at their own cost, but MMRCL denied Right of Way (RoW).
Commuters struggle inside the newly inaugurated Aqua Metro Line 3 as mobile networks fail to function, causing major inconvenience. Pic/Kirit Surve Parade
A sudden loss of mobile network connectivity on Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line 3 late Wednesday night caught commuters off guard. On Thursday, mid-day travelled from Aarey JVLR to Worli to check if services were restored, but all phones still flashed: ‘No Network’, ‘Call Failed’, ‘No Service’.
Major service providers, Vodafone, Jio, and Airtel, were non-functional throughout the underground stretch. Some commuters believe this is a temporary issue due to line expansion, while others point to a dispute between the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) and telecom companies.
mid-day rode from Aarey JVLR to Worli, testing all major networks—and found that none worked. Connectivity vanished the moment commuters entered the underground concourse, returning only upon resurfacing. The blackout disrupted digital ticketing; forcing commuters to take screenshots of QR codes or rely on offline mode. Notices at stations now urge passengers to buy their tickets before entering.
The dispute
The Aqua Line is caught in a standoff over telecom infrastructure. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) claims all three providers had jointly offered to install a common In-Building Solution (IBS) at their own cost, but MMRCL denied Right of Way (RoW), citing internal tender processes.
Passengers face payment issues on Aqua Line 3 due to lack of mobile network connectivity. Pic/Kirit Surve Parade
In response, MMRCL stated it had invited bids to set up neutral infrastructure accessible to all telecom operators, following models used in airports and Metros nationwide.
Ashwini Khanvilkar, who travels daily from SEEPZ to Santacruz, said the issue began after the Aqua Line was extended to Worli. “There’s no way to call home if there’s an emergency. With the wait, ticketing and travel, we’re out of network for 30–35 minutes.”
Sita Rani, a staffer at Aarey station, said the blackout has affected even Metro employees. “There’s no way for our families to reach us in case of an emergency. We don’t even have a landline at the station.”
MMRCL responds
To ensure mobile coverage inside underground stations, MMRCL appointed ACES as a neutral infrastructure provider through an open bid in March 2024. ACES installed required equipment across all 16 operational Metro Line 3 stations.
On May 13, VI and Airtel abruptly pulled services, leaving commuters with no mobile network. Only Jio remains active—at SEEPZ station, where it has installed equipment.
Commuters voice concerns
Diya Agicha, Student
‘I had to leave the station just to get a change and buy a ticket. It defeats the purpose of going cashless. Today we are so dependent of cellular networks, it feels unsafe if you do not have a network while travelling.’
Pankaj Karadikar, commuter
‘It’s not just a 15-minute ride—we’re cut off for nearly 40 minutes from the rest of the world. Did the authorities not think of this before inaugurating the Metro line?’
Sheshu Jilla, works at T2
‘I need to take calls even after work, but for two days I haven’t been able to connect at all during my commute. This may drive people away from using the Metro.’
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