Mumbai’s Inaugural Underground Metro Sparks Business Revival After 7-Year Struggle

After seven years of enduring revenue losses and disruption due to construction, Mumbai’s first underground Metro line is set to open this July, offering relief to businesses along its route and residents navigating the city’s congested suburban trains.

The Metro Line 3, stretching 33.5 kilometres from Navy Nagar in the south to Aarey Depot in the north, commenced construction in November 2017 under the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC). The ambitious project necessitated extensive road closures and barricades, severely impacting local businesses operating along its path. According to the MMRC, significant progress has been made with 18.123 kilometres of the total 28.885 kilometres now cleared of barricades along the Metro 3 corridor. This development marks a critical milestone for businesses that have struggled to attract customers amid the construction chaos. “For years, shopkeepers along DN Road in Fort and other areas have faced drastic revenue declines as their visibility was obscured by construction barricades. With these barriers finally removed, there’s renewed optimism among businesses about a potential revival,” noted a local shop manager.

The MMRC has initiated road reinstatement efforts, deploying steel decks at key locations such as DN Road at Fountain, BKC, and MIDC in Andheri. As station boxes near completion, ongoing efforts focus on dismantling these steel decks and rebuilding roads in a phased manner to coincide with the Metro’s operational rollout. The impact of Mumbai’s first underground Metro is expected to be transformative, benefiting nearly 3 million commuters and significantly reducing vehicular traffic by approximately 4.5 lakh trips per day initially, with projections of up to 6.5 lakh daily trips at full capacity. This anticipated shift promises to stimulate economic growth across the city, providing a vital lifeline for businesses that have weathered years of uncertainty. As Mumbai prepares for the Metro Line 3’s inaugural run, stakeholders are optimistic about its potential to rejuvenate urban commerce and alleviate transportation challenges, marking a significant milestone in the city’s infrastructure development and economic revitalisation efforts.