mid-day takes a look at the 11 stations on the soon-to-be-opened stretch of Aqua Line 3 that extends to Cuffe Parade. Here is what we saw
PIC/Ashish Raje
Ninety-five years after the Colaba station on the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway (Western Railway) was consigned to the history books, trains are returning to the tony area in the form of a modern Metro. Ahead of the proposed opening of the final stretch of the Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 — from Worli to Cuffe Parade — on October 8, mid-day visited all of its 11 stations. While most of the entry/exit gates appeared to be ready, final touches were still being put in a few cases.
The authorities have been opening Line 3 in phases. The length of the entire stretch, from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade, is 33 km, with 27 stations, 26 of which are underground, while one is at-grade. On October 7, 2024, a 13-km stretch between Aarey JVLR and the BKC was opened, and another 9-km stretch from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli was opened on May 10. On an average, the line is used by about 70,000 passengers a day.
Station by Station
1. Science Centre
While the gates, CCTV cameras, escalators, and stairway of the station seemed proper, construction material and debris could be seen at its entrances. Three of its six gates are slated to be opened by October 8, according to on-site personnel. Ticket counters and signage boards seemed to be in place while escalators were being worked on.
2. Mahalaxmi
Pic/Ashish Raje
Of the nine anticipated gates, many were under construction. The station is surrounded by narrow footpaths, which were blocked by traffic poles or signboards. Propped up near Saat Rasta, the station will provide relief who won’t have to walk to Mahalaxmi railway station just to access public transport.
3. Jagannath Shankar Sheth
Pic/Ashish Raje
While the gates near Maratha Mandir theatre were being constructed, those adjacent to Mumbai Central railway station have been built to near completion. While the gates have been erected, the narrow pavements besides them were paan-stained and were full of puddles. Shopkeepers along the metro stations inform that the metro has not brought in any particular relief, as it is built very close to the train station itself. Currently, days before the inauguration, hawkers and homeless citizens have taken up the entrances.
4. Grant Road
Pic/Aditi Alurkar
Three gates appeared fully constructed. Fire drills were held and preparations made for emergency exits. Exposed wires were being taken care of. “The Metro station took several years to be built and took a heavy toll on all businesses on the streets. Once it is opened, we hope it will be worth it,” said a shopkeeper whose store stands behind a gate.
5. Girgaon
Pics/Ashish Raje
Two out of three entry/exit points were ready. Workers were picking up debris. Residents expressed hope that both the Kalbadevi and Girgaon Metro stations would ease the traffic congestion in the area. “We have been suffering with a very congested road since the time the work on the station started. We just hope once the inauguration happens, the travel experience improves.”
6. Kalbadevi
Pic/Ashish Raje
This station has only two entry/exit gates, both of which appeared proper. Workers told midday, “We are putting the final touches, such as scraping off the paint, etc. We are completely ready for the inauguration.”
7. CSMT
Pic/Ashish Raje
Five of the Metro station’s gates, situated on the Mahapalika Marg, were finished and ready for inauguration. The footpath was debris-free and spotless.
8. Hutatma Chowk
This station, located on Dadabhai Naoroji Road, has four elevator entrances. The slopes by which one can access elevators have also been concreted and have railings. The only work that seemed to be remaining was the removal of debris and material from the entrances.
9. Churchgate
Pic/Madhulika Ram Kavattur
All entry/exit points of this station, on Jamshedji Tata Road , looked proper. Workers outside the station, on the condition of anonymity, told mid-day, “Most of the work is done at the station, and it will be ready in the next few days for the inauguration.”
10. Vidhan Bhavan
Pic/Ashish Raje
With seven entrances, the Vidhan Bhavan station on the VV Rao Marg is almost ready for inauguration. Some workers were smoothing surfaces. Irfan Ahmed Ansari, a taxi driver in South Mumbai, believes that the opening of the station will hurt business. “When the line was opened up to Worli, many taxi drivers came to our area to ply their trade, but when this line starts, where will we go? It will be very hard for us to get passengers, and also pay for the rent to taxi owners,” he said.
11. Cuffe Parade
Pic/Ashish Raje
More than three entry/exits appeared ready for the inauguration. The footpath, however, was another story. mid-day observed that multiple heaps of debris had been left in front of the Colaba Woods garden. Angoo Chawhan, a worker at the station, said, “All work will be completed in the next four to five days.”
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