A major tragedy was averted on Friday afternoon, October 3, on Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as Aqua Line or underground metro. An electrical spark was reported in an underground metro train departing from CSMI-Airport - T2 in Vile Parle, while heading towards Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli (last station), forcing all passengers to disembark at Santacruz station, according to the local TV reports. They were later shifted to another metro. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained. However, no one on board was injured in the following incident.
Mumbai Metro 3 stated that the disruption of train services occurred at around 2.44 PM when a train moving towards Acharya Atre Chowk faced a technical issue while approaching Santacruz station. "As a precautionary measure, the train was safely evacuated at Santacruz platform. Train has been taken to the BKC loopline for a detailed technical inspection. This particular train service was cancelled; however, all other trains continued to run on time."
Visuals From Santacruz Underground Metro Station
"We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and appreciate their cooperation. Passenger safety remains our highest priority, and necessary protocols were promptly followed to ensure safe operations," Mumbai Metro said further.
After this incident, the metro administration has appealed to passengers not to panic and assured them that all trains are running on schedule. However, the exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. According to preliminary assessments, it is suspected that either a technical glitch or faulty wiring may have caused the electrical spark in the train's compartment.
An investigation has been initiated in the presence of technical experts, and the exact cause will only be confirmed after the report is submitted. Meanwhile, passengers have expressed relief at the administration’s prompt response. Although some were frightened due to the chaos on board, panic inside the train.
The Metro-3 corridor is completely underground and includes important stations such as Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate, Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk, Siddhivinayak, Dadar, Dharavi, BKC, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, CSIA Domestic Airport, Sahar Road, CSIA International Airport, Marol Naka, MIDC, SEEPZ and Aarey. This route has been designed to improve connectivity across key business, heritage, and residential hubs, allowing commuters to travel a distance of about 36 kilometres in less than 60 minutes.
As a historic moment in Mumbai’s transport development, Cuffe Parade has become the southernmost terminus of Metro Line 3. For the first time, the city’s underground metro has reached the southern tip of South Mumbai, significantly reducing travel time from suburbs like Aarey and BKC. This station provides high-speed connectivity to one of Mumbai’s busiest and most high-value commercial districts.