Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 Begins Trials Under Mithi River

Mumbai, India: The Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 has successfully conducted trial runs on its Dharavi to Acharya Atre Chowk stretch, covering 9.77 km and six stations. The line, set to open for commercial operations by March 2025, includes a challenging twin-tunnel section under the Mithi River.

Officials revealed that tunneling under the Mithi River, a first of its kind in Mumbai, required custom-designed earth balance machines to maintain stability and manage water seepage. The 9.57m-deep tunnels were excavated using Godavari 3 and Godavari 4 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and the New Australian Tunneling Method (NATM).

To prevent water ingress, precast concrete segment rings with mushroom-type gaskets and hydrophilic seals were installed, ensuring watertight protection. Dharavi station, located 18 to 18.5m underground, is among the six stations between Kotak BKC and Acharya Atre Chowk, including Sitaladevi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, and Worli.

Once operational, travel time from JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk will be just 39 minutes. The final Colaba extension is expected to launch by late 2025.