Mumbai Metro Line 3 halts for 20 minutes during peak morning rush

Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, faced a technical disruption on the morning of Monday, March 23, 2025. The issue caused delays during peak travel hours, leaving commuters stranded for nearly 20 minutes as trains came to a halt in both directions.

The problem began when a metro car near MIDC on the Aarey stretch developed a technical fault. This forced the entire Line 3 corridor into single-line operation, bringing trains to a complete stop between 8:40 AM and 8:57 AM. Passengers reported confusion as carriages remained stationary with doors left open.

An official announcement informed commuters about the delay. After nearly 20 minutes, the affected train restarted, moving cautiously at a reduced speed. The disruption, though brief, impacted thousands of travellers during one of the busiest times of the day. Following the incident, Mumbai Metro Line 3 implemented upgrades to its signalling systems. By early 2026, these improvements had cut average delays from 15 minutes to under two. The line also saw a significant rise in daily ridership, climbing by 25% to over 500,000 passengers.

The March 2025 disruption highlighted vulnerabilities in the metro's operations but also triggered key improvements. Enhanced signalling and efficiency measures have since led to faster services and a growing number of passengers relying on the Aqua Line daily.