Mumbai: Metro, local trains all set to get linked

Work on the Metro Line 3 is on in full swing near CSMT

The new Mumbai Metro networks are slowly getting ready and at the same time, getting integrated with the lifeline of the city, the suburban railway network at a number of stations. The Mumbai Metro Line 3 is one of the key lines that is integrating with both the big termini of the city, Mumbai CSMT and Churchgate, with its own 21st century classy stations. Here's how it's being done.

"The Mumbai Metro Line 3 integrates with the suburban railway, other Mumbai Metro lines and existing transport modes at around eight locations These include, besides the city's big rail termini of Mumbai CSMT and Churchgate; Grant Road and Mumbai Central (also close to the MSRTC bus depot). At Mahalaxmi, the line is close to the Monorail station and at BKC, integrates with the Mumbai Metro Line 2-B and with Metro Line 1," a senior official said.

"The Mumbai CSMT Metro station is across the road opposite the BMC headquarters at Azad Maidan and it is being directly linked to the existing Mumbai CSMT railway station through the BMC underpass. A pathway from the new CSMT directly approaches the existing BMC subway, offering seamless underground connectivity," Subodh Gupta director (projects) MMRC said.

Also read: The reason behind low ridership in Mumbai local trains

"At Churchgate, the Metro station is just across the road and an entry opens close to the existing station onto the main road. At other important stations like Mumbai Central, the Metro station opens at the MSRTC bus depot and also inthe railway station side giving the best connectivity option," he added.

The Mumbai Metro Line 3 is the first and only fully underground metro proposed for Mumbai. The 33.5 km long Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro 3 Corridor is a key project to improve the transportation scenario in the city with 26 underground stations. Officials said that both the terminals of the airport would have Metro stations providing interchange.

Metro Line 3 construction update

>> The line has completed 97% of tunnelling work. Total 6 of 7 contract packages have completed 100% tunnelling till date. Civil work progress is 79% and overall station work progress is 69%.
>> MMRC will install 66.07 km track for the Metro 3 line. Welding of track in package 4 and 7 has been 100% complete for more than 2 track kms.
Highlights of Metro Line 3
>> Train Capacity - 2,400
>> Estimated ridership by 2030 -17 lakh /day
>> Commercial speed - 34 kmph (including stops)
>> Driverless train operations and centralized control
>> Platform screen doors to avoid any accidental fall or mishap
>> Contact-less smart card to ensure ‘zero' revenue loss.
>> State-of-the-art escalators and lifts designed for physically challenged

Line-3 Metro station interconnectivity
Metro station Will connect to
Churchgate Churchgate (Western Railway)
CSMT CSMT (Central & Harbour Railway)
Grant Road Grant Road (Western Railway)
Mumbai Central Mumbai Central station (Western Railway) and ST bus depot
Mahalaxmi Mahalaxmi Monorail station
Dadar Dadar (Western Railway (10-minute walk)
BKC Metro Line-2B (D.N. Nagar - Mandale)
Marol Naka Metro Line-1 (Ghatkopar to Versova)