Mumbai's Aqua Line commuters can now access mobile services across more underground sections following the latest expansion by Vodafone Idea. According to Mid-day, Vi (Vodafone Idea) mobile network services are now live across 16 stations from Aarey JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk, including SEEPZ, MIDC Andheri, Marol Naka, CSMI Airport T2, Sahar Road, CSMI Airport T1, Santacruz, Bandra Colony, Bandra Kurla Complex, Dharavi, Shitla Devi Mandir, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, and Worli. The expansion builds on the previous restoration that began more than three months ago, with Airtel users now having access from Aarey JVLR to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)* while Vodafone Idea subscribers can stay connected from Aarey JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk. As per Mid-day, the rollout is part of the phased implementation of telecom infrastructure across the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor. Several commuters reported mobile signals on Wednesday, June 10, confirming the successful deployment of mobile network services inside the metro tunnels and stations.
Bharti Airtel has also restored connectivity across 10 stations, as confirmed by a company executive. According to Mint reports, the charges that telecom operators will pay to Mumbai Metro for deploying their network infrastructure will be as per the government's right of way (RoW) rules and are significantly less compared to the earlier demand. Reliance Jio is yet to make any announcement regarding service restoration, though authorities expect BSNL network access to become available within the next six months. The financial resolution represents a significant breakthrough after months of dispute over unviable rates offered by the selected infrastructure provider.
The dispute originated when Mumbai Metro Rail Corp. Ltd (MMRCL) looped in ACES, a Saudi Arabia-based digital infrastructure provider, to provide in-building solutions for the metro network. As reported by Mint, in a joint letter to MMRCL last year, the three private telecom operators stated that "it would not be possible for us to provide IBS (in-building solution) services at unviable rates offered by your selected partner ACES." The dispute drew attention from the department of telecommunications (DoT), which stepped in to resolve the issue. In May, MMRCL issued a joint letter of acceptance (LoA) to Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to provide cellular network connectivity along the route, with the matter being taken up with the Maharashtra government at the highest level to resolve the dispute.
While the majority of stations are now covered, Vodafone Idea's network is currently available from Aarey-JVLR to Acharya Atre Chowk stations and tunnels, except at Dharavi station and tunnel sections towards BKC and Shitla Devi Mandir stations. Officials said these gaps are due to the restoration of equipment following a prolonged shutdown and will be resolved shortly. According to Mid-day, Vi announced that the rollout across Phase 2 of the metro covering 11 stations from Science Centre Metro Station to Cuffe Parade is currently underway. More telecom service providers are expected to join the network rollout in the coming days, gradually extending connectivity across the entire corridor. On March 20, MMRCL floated a tender seeking a new IBS provider for the Aqua Line, but received no response, subsequently bringing together the three private operators to provide the much-needed connectivity.
The phased restoration is expected to enhance the travel experience for thousands of daily passengers by enabling uninterrupted voice calls, internet access, messaging services and digital payments while commuting through the city's underground metro network. According to Mid-day, Vi Chief Technology Officer Jagbir Singh commented that "Reliable connectivity is an essential part of everyone's daily commute. We are very pleased that our service is available on Aqua Line Phase 1 of the Mumbai Metro network, Phase 2 will go live soon. This deployment reflects our continued commitment to strengthening network availability across key customer touchpoints, and delivering a seamless connectivity experience in high-density urban environments." The telecom operator expects to extend services across the rest of the metro network over the coming weeks, ensuring seamless connectivity for customers across Mumbai's expanding metro ecosystem.
