Mumbai Rains: Metro 3 Aqua Line Hit! Services Halted Due To Flooding At Acharya Atre Station; Footage Goes Viral
Mumbai: The city’s eagerly anticipated monsoon season arrived early on Monday, delivering intense rainfall that created chaos across Mumbai’s transportation network. The heavy downpour not only caused the typical waterlogging issues affecting local trains and road networks but also revealed serious flaws in the city’s recently launched underground Metro 3 system, commonly called the Aqua Line.
Acharya Atre Station Submerged in Water
A significant disruption occurred at Acharya Atre station, which is part of the BKC-Worli section that opened to the public this month. The underground facility experienced severe flooding with water reaching knee-high levels after the rainfall, forcing officials to temporarily close the station and remove personnel from the premises.
Train operations were halted, creating serious questions about how well the underground metro system can handle monsoon weather conditions. Mumbai Metro officials have not yet issued any formal response regarding the incident.
The flooding incident immediately triggered political criticism. Varsha Gaikwad, a Congress Member of Parliament, posted footage of the waterlogged station on social platforms, condemning officials for inadequate preparation. “This highly publicized underground metro system is underwater on the first rainy day. Water is seeping through the ceiling and cascading down the stairways. Doesn’t the administration realize how hazardous this situation is?” Gaikwad wrote in her social media post. She also demanded transparency and called for thorough examination of safety protocols and building standards.
Metro 3’s Second Phase Recently Launched
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis officially opened the BKC to Worli section, a 6-station underground segment of Metro 3, on May 10. The complete 33.5-kilometer Aqua Line connecting Colaba to SEEPZ is scheduled to begin full operations by August, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to conduct the formal launch ceremony. When finished, the network will feature 27 stations (26 below ground and one at surface level) and is expected to significantly ease road congestion and lessen pressure on suburban rail services.
Presently, eight trains complete 244 daily journeys on the active route, operating at intervals of 6 minutes and 20 seconds. Ticket prices vary from Rs 10 to Rs 60 based on travel distance. Although marketed as offering a contemporary commuting experience, the Aqua Line began operations without cellular network connectivity, which has already attracted public criticism.
Mumbai Experiences Unusually Early Monsoon, Weather Warning Issued
The flooding occurred at a particularly problematic time, as Monday represented the official start of Mumbai’s southwest monsoon season, arriving nearly two weeks before the typical June 11 timeline. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) verified that this represents the earliest monsoon beginning for Mumbai in 15 years. An Orange alert was declared for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts, cautioning residents about heavy precipitation and thunderstorm activity expected throughout the day.