Latest news with #AquaLine
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Time of India
Plan to develop subways linking Metro stations
Mumbai: With the full launch of the Metro Line 3 expected in Aug, city planners are now looking beyond just moving people underground—they are working on a future where commuters can seamlessly walk from Metro stations to offices, malls, parks, and even the coastline through a citywide network of pedestrian subways. On Monday evening, top officials from the BMC, MMRCL, MMRDA and the Indian Railways met at the civic headquarters to explore how areas around Metro stations can be developed to ensure smoother last-mile connectivity. The discussions focused on integrating pedestrian infrastructure with the city's expanding underground transit system. Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is Mumbai's first fully underground Metro corridor. Currently, the stretch between Aarey and BKC is operational, with nearly 60,000 passengers using it daily. The entire corridor spans 33.5km, covering 27 stations from Aarey in the north to Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai, and passes through major commercial and transport hubs including Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Churchgate, CSMT and BKC. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai One of the first pedestrian integration projects already being planned is a 1km subway linking the underground Acharya Atre Chowk Metro station to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road's parking facility at Haji Ali. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A 160-metre branch arm is also proposed to connect to adjacent open spaces. BMC and MMRCL officials have been working on the alignment since June. "This is just the beginning. Monday's meeting was largely about identifying nodal agencies to take forward such infrastructure," said a civic official. A senior official said a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared over the next four months. The vision is to connect high-density commercial zones—like malls, corporate parks, and office hubs—with Metro stations through pedestrian subways within a 500m to 1km radius. These subways will include escalators and elevators, making them accessible for all. If implemented citywide, this could reduce surface congestion, promote walking, and reimagine Mumbai as a more connected and commuter-friendly city.
NDTV
01-06-2025
- NDTV
Mumbai's BEST Announces Bus Route Revamp, New AC Services: Check Details
Mumbai: Mumbai's public transport is set to get a major boost as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) revamps 30 bus routes and launches new AC services from June 1. These changes aim to improve connectivity with Mumbai Metro Line 3 and make commuting easier for passengers. Major Route Redesign Launch of new AC bus services. Renumbering of existing routes. Introducing new routes for better connectivity. Changes in timetables to suit commuter demand. New AC Bus Services Launched Several new AC routes have been introduced to provide comfortable travel options: A-8: Mantralaya to Shivaji Nagar Terminus (8:05 AM to 10:50 PM). A-44: Upgraded from route 44, running Kala Chowki to Worli Depot. A-125: Navy Nagar to Worli Depot via Mohammed Ali Road. A-241: Santacruz to Malvani. A-175: Circular route from Pratiksha Nagar Depot to Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan via Antop Hill, Wadala Church, and Khodadad Circle. A-490: Mantralaya to Balkum, Thane (East) via Eastern Express Highway. Other AC services include routes 243, 343, 344, 347, 452, 459, 602, and 626 covering key suburbs and transit hubs like Malad, Goregaon, Mulund, and Pawai. Changes To Existing Routes Route 456, previously an AC route, has been converted into a regular circular route 456. Route 25 has been renumbered as route 29, running from Prabhodhankar Thackeray Udyan to Vihar Sarovar. Route 11 Limited is now diverted via Lalbaug flyover between Byculla Station and Parel, bypassing stops at Jijamata Udyan, Jai Hind Cinema, and Lalbaug. Integration With Mumbai Metro Line 3 This route rationalisation aligns with BEST's plan to improve last-mile connectivity with the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), particularly as its second phase (BKC to Worli Naka) is set to launch soon. The Metro's final phase (Cuffe Parade) is also expected shortly. BEST plans to add 29 buses on 17 routes for Metro Phase II. Another 50 buses will be added on 30 routes for Phase III. These buses will follow ring-route patterns linking metro stations, suburban rail hubs, and commercial centres. Benefits For Commuters Reduced average wait times by up to 15 minutes due to route optimisation and increased service frequency. Enhanced feeder services to the metro system and better connectivity across Mumbai suburbs. Introduction of more AC buses on high-demand routes during peak hours for improved comfort. Fare Revision BEST, Mumbai's second-largest public transport operator with a fleet of around 2,800 buses serving over 30 lakh passengers daily, is facing a financial crunch. Revenues have dropped below Rs 700 crore in recent years, PTI reported. To improve financial health, BEST has proposed a fare revision: Doubling minimum fare for first 5 km travel. Removal of fare caps of Rs 20 (non-AC) and Rs 25 (AC) for journeys beyond 20 km. Expected additional annual revenue of Rs 590 crore from revised fares. The fare revision awaits approval from the Mumbai civic body and the Regional Transport Authority. BEST administration has urged passengers to review all new route changes and timings in advance through the official BEST website or mobile app. Commuters are advised to plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
1.1 million litres of water in an under-construction pit at AAC led to its collapse
MUMBAI: Monday's unprecedented downpour put to test the Aqua Line of Mumbai metro, where 1.1 million litres of water accumulated in its last station – the Acharya Atre Chowk (AAC) – which was only partially opened to public. There are six entry-exit gates to the station, of which two are open for public; four are under-construction. The heavy rain led to one of the under-construction gates flooding, leading to services to AAC being suspended. The weight of the rainwater in the pit led to its collapse, flooding the station premises below. The temporary protective concrete retaining wall around it also failed to withstand the force of water. Officials from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) said the reason behind such an eventuality was because the area around Worli recorded 90 mm of rainfall in an hour (9.30-10.30 am); high tide alongside added to the problem. The AAC station is expected to reopen in a couple of days. 'The deepest point of this station is at 22 meters where water and slush has reached. High powered pumps are being used to flush it all out. Cleaning this portion is our first priority,' said Ashwini Bhide, managing director, MMRCL, on Tuesday. She also expressed optimism about reopening the AAC station in a couple of days. People in the know told HT that the retaining wall was built only to withstand 'normal rain', and that a red alert is sounded if rainfall exceeds 25 mm in an hour. This under-construction entry-exit point is located along Dr Annie Besant Road, where an overflowing stormwater drain also compounded the problem. 'The work of fitting the base slab on this under construction portion was pending. So, we created a pit with the retaining wall. 1.1 million litres of rain water was too much for this temporary pit to contain, which collapsed and crashed onto the station concourse. No other station on the underground Line-3 suffered similar problem,' said an official from MMRCL. An officer, who did not wish to be named, told HT that slush and water had entered the lifts and escalators, 'which are being cleaned and will be tested on Wednesday'. Pumps have been deployed 24*7 to clean the tracks. The officer also said that a permanent protection wall is being built around the damaged part of the station, which will take a couple of months to be ready. This will help prevent any ingress of water in future. Other stations of this route – Worli to Aarey JVLR – are protected, the officer added. While two entry-exit points are sufficient to service the station's existing passenger load, this incident has raised concerns about its safe operations, drainage systems and overall monsoon preparedness especially when MMRCL claimed earlier that the high profile ₹37,000-crore corridor was flood-proof. 'Passengers have no cause for worry on the underground metro corridor. Trains can be reversed on the southern end inside the tunnel, where water has not entered,' said the official. On Monday, close to 40,000 passengers travelled on Aarey JVLR-Worli route while on Tuesday over 45,000 passengers travelled on this line.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Flooding at Acharya Atre station curtails Metro 3 services to Worli
Mumbai: Acharya Atre Chowk station on Mumbai's underground Metro Line 3 (Colaba–SEEPZ) was flooded following a spell of intense rain. This forced authorities to curtail operations and terminate trains at Worli. The flooding occurred at an entry/exit structure along Dr Annie Besant Road, raising concerns about the 37,000-crore corridor's waterproofing and drainage preparedness ahead of the monsoon. According to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), the incident was triggered by the collapse of a water-retaining RCC wall at the entry point. "Due to sudden and intense rainfall today, water seepage was reported at the under-construction entry/exit structure of Acharya Atre Chowk station. The incident occurred when the RCC water-retaining wall collapsed due to water ingress from an adjoining utility," the agency said in a statement. While the seepage was restricted to the construction zone, train services between Worli and Acharya Atre Chowk were suspended as a precaution. "Services between Aarey JVLR and Worli remain unaffected and are running as per schedule," the statement said. MMRCL said engineering and safety teams were on site and working "on a war footing" to fix the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo "Safety remains our highest priority. Services will resume only after all systems are fully secure and operational. We regret the inconvenience caused and seek commuters' cooperation," the agency said. MMRC managing director Ashwini Bhide said average daily ridership on the line is about 45,000, and on Monday number of commuters between Worli and Aarey was about 24,000 up to 4pm. The disruption at Acharya Atre Chowk station, however, triggered sharp reactions on social media. One X user (@snakeyesV1) wrote: "Oh, the Aqua Line of Mumbai Metro, living up to its name in the most literal way possible! Who knew that a line named Aqua would actually become a swimming pool?" Another user, Manoj Arora, posted: "Promises delivered. Mumbai Metro's 'Acqua Line' is literally and truly an acqua line. Japan needs to catch up fast!" Civic activist Anil Galgali called it a result of poor planning. "The waterproofing clearly failed. The fact that rainwater entered the station premises shows the system wasn't ready. Suspending services within days of inauguration reflects lack of preparedness," he said. According to MMRC, station entrances and lifts are designed with a plinth level at least 1,200mm above road level to prevent water seepage. As a second line of defence, manual floodgates are installed at entrances and automatic gates at isolated lift locations. These are designed to withstand 500mm of water above plinth level. Each station also has an underground water tank and drainage system, equipped with automatic pumps to drain any accumulated water. Civic activist Zoru Bhathena said: "An Underground Metro line in a flood prone city like Mumbai will always be a problem. But, to see the damage caused due to this flooding is unprecedented. "
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Auto-cracy: Cops are gone, overloading back in Noida's Sector 52
Noida: A week after traffic police crackdown, auto-rickshaw drivers outside the Sector 52 metro station continue to overload passengers heading to Greater Noida West and nearby areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A visit to the spot on Wednesday showed a long line of autos parked along the left lane between Sector 51 and Sector 52 metro stations, calling out to commuters heading to Gaur City, Surajpur, and other areas. Sumit Kumar, an auto driver, said that traffic police recently cracked down on overloading and seized several vehicles. "Earlier, we used to carry five passengers on a shared basis from Sector 52 to Gaur Chowk, charging Rs 40 each — three passengers in the back and two next to the driver - earning Rs 200 per trip. Now, the police have barred us from taking passengers in the front seat, which means we can only carry three people and earn Rs 120 per trip," he said. Auto drivers had raised the fare to Rs 60 per passenger in response to the drive, sparking protests last Friday evening and forcing police intervention. "Either we raise the fare or we overload. Plying on the route with the existing fare with three passengers is not viable for us," said Sonu Kumar, another auto driver. There are over 18,000 registered autos in the city but most do not follow metered fares, citing outdated tariff structures. Despite traffic police taking action previously, auto drivers have resumed overloading in the absence of consistent monitoring. The problem of overcharging has also persisted. Harsh Kumar, a resident of Gaur City, said that the fare hike is unjustified, especially when there is no bus or metro connectivity in Greater Noida West. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "I travel daily from Gaur City to Nehru Place via Sector 51. The autos are the only viable mode for last-mile connectivity. Arbitrarily increasing the fare is not fair," he said. Several commuters heading to the 7x sectors also reported being overcharged by auto drivers as there is no fixed auto fare and drivers do not ply by meter. The Sector 50 and Sector 52 metro stations serve as crucial interchanges between Delhi Metro's Blue Line and NMRC's Aqua lines, and witness heavy footfall as people switch modes or take autos towards various parts of Noida and Greater Noida West. These stations are currently linked by a pedestrian walkway, with a skywalk expected to open later this year. In the meantime, pedestrians face considerable inconvenience navigating through a footpath encroached by hawkers, vendors, and other roadside sellers. When it began operations in Jan 2019, the Aqua Line's daily ridership was around 11,852. By April this year, the daily ridership had increased to 59,336. As per 2023 ridership data, Sector 51 metro station sees around 17,000 passengers daily, while Sector 52 caters to about 45,000 commuters daily. Data for 2024 was not available. DCP (traffic) Lakhan Singh Yadav said that over 1,000 challans were issued last week and 200 autos have been seized during this period for carrying extra passengers, including the illegal practice of seating beside the driver. A transport department official said that a meeting with the auto union is planned soon to address and resolve the ongoing issues.
