“Aqua Line, Indeed!” — Mumbai’s Brand-New Worli Metro Station turns water park as monsoon arrives early

Mumbai’s swanky new underground metro station at Worli, inaugurated just last month with much fanfare, is already living up to its name — Aqua Line 3 — by doubling as a swimming pool, thanks to the first serious monsoon showers.

Visuals circulating on social media showed platforms at the newly inaugurated Worli station on Aqua Line 3 submerged in muddy water, with passengers wading through ankle-deep pools in slippers and folded pants. The floodwater had not only reached the gates of the station but also seeped onto the platforms, prompting safety concerns among commuters.

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A tweet highlighting the incident read: “Worli #Mumbai underground metro station of Aqualine 3 (inaugurated in April) submerged in water this morning despite India being the 4th largest economy 🙂 #Aqualine staying true to its name. Who is responsible?”

The flooding came after a night of continuous downpour in Mumbai, marking the earliest arrival of the monsoon in Maharashtra in 35 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Officials said Mumbai will likely continue receiving heavy to very heavy rain in the coming days as part of a broader monsoon pattern impacting the western coast.

In the last 24 hours, several areas in Mumbai recorded significant rainfall: Nariman Point received 40 mm between 6 and 7 am, Grant Road 36 mm, Colaba 31 mm, and Byculla 21 mm. Both eastern and western suburbs reported light to moderate rainfall through the morning.

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The weather has already begun affecting daily life. Multiple airlines, including SpiceJet and Air India, have issued advisories urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Local train services, a city’s lifeline, were also running slower than usual in several parts due to waterlogging.

The Worli metro station, part of Mumbai’s ambitious underground metro project opened just last month, is now at the center of public criticism. Questions are being raised over the drainage infrastructure and preparedness of the city’s transport systems in the face of monsoon challenges.