Commuters lined up in large numbers to travel on the newly inaugurated Mumbai Metro Line 3, connecting Cuffe Parade and Acharya Atre Chowk, Thursday, a day after the 33.5-km line 3 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The service on Line 3, also called Aqua Line, brought cheers to travellers commuting between Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade, and provided ease of connectivity from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Nariman Point. Footfall on the first day was moderate. However, more passengers were observed boarding the Metro train from CSMT and Churchgate, while a significant number were alighting at these stations. Many commuters used the Metro to reach Colaba or Nariman Point, opting for it over buses or taxis to save time and avoid traffic. “I boarded at Churchgate to reach Nariman Point. For me, it’s faster than a cab and more convenient than the bus, even if it costs slightly more,” said Abdul Kadam, who was travelling to Nariman Point. The new underground corridor has reduced travel time significantly. Passengers travelling from Andheri or Aarey JVLR can now reach CSMT or Churchgate in around 40 minutes, compared to the longer commutes by train and cab. “Now I can reach my office in Nariman Point in 35 to 40 minutes. Earlier, I had to take the local train to Churchgate and then either walk or take a cab. The metro has made the commute much faster,” said Akshay Jain, from Andheri East. Lack of mobile network inside stations However, there were initial hiccups on Thursday as commuters on the new Metro line faced difficulties in purchasing tickets through UPI due to a lack of mobile network or Wi-Fi connectivity inside stations. Many had to purchase tickets using cash or go outside the station and use the MMRCL chatbot to purchase tickets. “There was no mobile network or Wi-Fi inside the station. I couldn’t make a UPI payment and had to buy my ticket with cash,” said Rajesh Chowdhury from Acharya Atre Chowk. Booking difficulties through Mumbai One app The Mumbai One app, developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8, alongside the inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport and the final phase of Metro Line 3. The app is designed to provide a unified ticketing platform across Metro, monorail, suburban trains, and buses. However, many commuters were unaware of the app, and some faced difficulties booking tickets for the newly opened stretch. The app was slow to respond and only displayed options from Aarey JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk, making it impossible to book tickets for the full route. “I tried the Mumbai One app, but it was slow and didn’t show the option to book tickets beyond Acharya Atre Chowk,” said Neeta Basu, a commuter from Worli.
