The Metro from Aarey to Cuffe Parade, in combination with the Coastal Road and the Sewri-Worli Connector (once it is ready), will transform commuting in Mumbai by offering an access-controlled, signal-free, hybrid transport network.
Though the first phase of Metro 3 (Aarey to BKC) has received poor ridership, once all phases are opened (second: BKC-Worli; third: Worli-Cuffe Parade), integration with dedicated bus routes on high-speed road corridors will attract commuters with reduced travel time and cost, and improved last-mile connectivity. “The important thing here is that the authorities honour their promise of dedicated bus routes on Coastal Road, the upcoming Sewri-Worli link and Atal Setu. Only then will it be feasible for people to be weaned off cars in favour of cheap, efficient public transport,” said a retired bureaucrat.
How will such an integrated system work? For example, on the Coastal Road, the distance from Nariman Point to Worli can be covered in 10-15 minutes. From there, one can switch to Metro 3 at Acharya Atre Chowk to reach BKC or Dadar within another 20 minutes. The distance takes almost an hour to traverse through congested roads. Then again, the Sewri-Worli Connector, expected to be ready by 2026-27, will provide a direct link to the city’s western shoreline for commuters from Navi Mumbai (via Atal Setu) and the eastern suburbs.
“I take a cab from Cuffe Parade to Worli every day, and the Coastal Road has already cut my travel time by half. Now let’s say I need to go to BKC or Dadar. With the Metro extension, I won’t have to worry about traffic once I reach Worli: I can just take the Metro to my destinations and reach in minutes,” said Sheldon Pinto, a banker.
For this multimodal transport integration, Acharya Atre Chowk is set to become a key transit hub, bringing together private vehicles, taxis and buses from the Coastal Road and the Sewri-Worli Connector with Metro 3. This will help ease congestion on arterial routes like Dr Annie Besant Road and Western Express Highway, offering commuters multiple options during peak hours. “Right now, getting from Wadala to BKC during peak hours is a nightmare. But with the Sewri-Worli Connector and Metro 3, I’ll be able to reach Worli in 10 minutes and take the Metro to BKC in another 10. That will be a huge relief,” said Hitesh Jani, who works in a construction firm.
As Metro 3 eventually extends to Cuffe Parade, the entire 33.5-km corridor will go on to serve as a backbone for the city’s transport network. Improvements on it, such as parking lots or bus stops around Acharya Atre Chowk, will make the transition between different modes of transport smoother. It will ultimately serve as a breather for the city’s clogged roads and jampacked local trains by helping decongest both.