Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 nears completion, Colaba to get trains after 95 years

Ninetyfive 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 mdash from Worli to Cuffe Parade mdash on October 8 midday visited all of its 11 stations While most of the entryexit gates appeared to be ready final touches were still being put in a few casesThe 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 atgrade On October 7 2024 a 13km stretch between Aarey JVLR and the BKC was opened and another 9km stretch from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli was opened on May 10 On an average the line is used by about 70000 passengers a dayStation by Station1 Science CentreWhile 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 onsite personnel Ticket counters and signage boards seemed to be in place while escalators were being worked on2 MahalaxmiPicAshish RajeOf 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 wonrsquot have to walk to Mahalaxmi railway station just to access public transport3 Jagannath Shankar ShethPicAshish RajeWhile 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 paanstained 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 entrances4 Grant RoadPicAditi AlurkarThree gates appeared fully constructed Fire drills were held and preparations made for emergency exits Exposed wires were being taken care of ldquoThe 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 itrdquo said a shopkeeper whose store stands behind a gate5 GirgaonPicsAshish RajeTwo out of three entryexit 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 ldquoWe 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 improvesrdquo6 KalbadeviPicAshish RajeThis station has only two entryexit gates both of which appeared proper Workers told midday ldquoWe are putting the final touches such as scraping off the paint etc We are completely ready for the inaugurationrdquo7 CSMTPicAshish RajeFive of the Metro stationrsquos gates situated on the Mahapalika Marg were finished and ready for inauguration The footpath was debrisfree and spotless8 Hutatma ChowkThis 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 entrances9 ChurchgatePicMadhulika Ram KavatturAll entryexit points of this station on Jamshedji Tata Road looked proper Workers outside the station on the condition of anonymity told midday ldquoMost of the work is done at the station and it will be ready in the next few days for the inaugurationrdquo10 Vidhan BhavanPicAshish RajeWith 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 ldquoWhen 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 ownersrdquo he said11 Cuffe ParadePicAshish RajeMore than three entryexits appeared ready for the inauguration The footpath however was another story midday observed that multiple heaps of debris had been left in front of the Colaba Woods garden Angoo Chawhan a worker at the station said ldquoAll work will be completed in the next four to five daysrdquo