And for another Friday in Mumbai …… a memorable experience in the Underground Metro …… some thoughts …. Some musings…..
All Mumbaikars I too have been anxiously waiting for Mumbai’s modern networked transport infrastructure to be operational ….. & what a WOW movement…… this month after a long wait & patient suffering …. overcoming many…. many hurdles …. Including the Environmental Activists … then the political tangle of one set of Politicians not wanting to give up land at Aarey terminal & ……..to top it all the heavy monsoon fury & flooding of the underground tracks ……. well well …. all that is history ….. after almost a decade Mumbai now has a Swanky … beautiful Underground Metro – The Aqua Line 3 connecting Cuffe Parade in Colaba in deep South Mumbai to Aarey colony up North ….. all but one of the 27 stations are underground …… it’s a Dream come True as I boarded at Cuffe Parade & alighted at Worli …. all in just 23 minutes & only Rs 50 for the ticket ….. & …..honestly this Aqua line 3 infra is better than any I have experienced lately in London , New York , Frankfurt or Tokyo …… it’s brand new & sparkling clean & fully Air-conditioned & very well staffed …..…..
Seated comfortably inside the Aqua line compartment & watching all my familiar Mumbai spots as underground stations …. Flora Fountain …. VT …. Churchgate …. Kalba Devi …. Grant Road ….Bombay Central ….Nehru Science Centre ….Mahalaxmi …. Worli …. one suddenly felt India has most deservedly arrived as the World’s fourth largest Economy …… Mumbai the Commercial Capital has set the tone …..Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd ( MMRCL) must also be complemented for exploiting the commercial potential of their Underground stations as Brand opportunities ……my particular appreciation to HDFC Life who on their 25 th Silver Jubilee year in 2025 adopted Mahalaxmi Underground station to be named as “ HDFC Life Mahalaxmi station” ……. what a Superb idea for an Insurance company which has differentiated itself by understanding Customer aspirations rather than promoting Insurance products …. Branding of Mahalaxmi underground, connecting daily with more than one lakh commuters & thus transforming itself from a Service Provider to a Life Partner ……their Tag line … “Sar Uthake Jiyo” looked eminently appropriate ……..
Total cost of 37,276 crores has been worth the investment …. for it reduces 35% of vehicle population on roads & transports 1.3 million Mumbaikars in comfort … it surely is the way forward for Bangalore & other cities to emulate ….. the Mumbai way …. the futuristic way …. the SEEGOS way.