Mumbai Metro Line 3 Aqua Line Faces Two Major Technical Failures, Services Disrupted During Peak Hours

The first disruption occurred at approximately 8:30 am during the morning peak hour when the signalling and telecommunication system of Mumbai Metro 3 malfunctioned across the entire route. According to an official from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), the fault originated from the Operations Control Centre and impacted train operations across both corridors of the Aqua Line.

The technical failure resulted in a complete halt of metro services for nearly one hour. Although operations resumed later in the morning, trains continued to run behind schedule, severely affecting passenger movement throughout the day.

Commuters reported significant delays on social media. Passenger Rajan Mathew stated that services between Hutatma Chowk and Cuffe Parade were delayed during the morning rush, noting his expectation of seamless inner-city connectivity through Metro Line 3. Another commuter, Arjun Sharma, remarked that the metro experienced a technical issue for an extended period, adding that passengers were left without clear information regarding the nature of the disruption.

A second disruption occurred later in the day at around 1:30 pm when the same technical issue resurfaced. Services across the entire stretch from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade were initially suspended. Approximately 30 minutes later, partial operations resumed between Aarey JVLR and Bandra Kurla Complex, followed by a gradual restoration of services across the full route. Despite restoration, delays persisted throughout the day.

In an official complaint addressed to MMRC, Godfrey Pimenta, lawyer and activist from the Watchdog Foundation, expressed serious concern over the repeated failures. He stated that it was deeply alarming for a metro line operational for barely a year to face such frequent disruptions, raising critical questions about operational reliability, maintenance standards, safety preparedness, and system robustness.

The repeated breakdowns during peak hours have intensified scrutiny over the performance and reliability of Mumbai’s newest metro corridor, highlighting urgent concerns regarding urban transit resilience in a rapidly expanding metropolitan network.