A section of the Mumbai Metro tunnel was damaged following unauthorised borewell drilling near Metro cinema in south Mumbai, officials said. A police complaint has been filed in connection with the incident, and an FIR has been registered.
According to PTI, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) lodged a complaint against a private water supplier for damaging a portion of Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line.
Officials confirmed that “an FIR has been registered in the matter, but metro services continue to run normally without any disruption.”
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Officials highlighted that prior permission is mandatory for any excavation or construction work near metro infrastructure. According to MMRC, “approval is required for any digging or construction activity within a 50-metre influence zone of Metro Line-3 infrastructure.”
The agency also urged compliance, stating that “individuals and agencies must follow these rules and obtain necessary clearances to avoid such incidents.”
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According to the PTI, while MMRC did not disclose complete details, a senior police officer provided information about the incident.
The officer quoted by the news agency stated that “the incident took place on March 5, when drilling activity led to a small hole on the left side of the underground tunnel.”
The FIR was registered on March 13 at Azad Maidan Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing negligent acts that could endanger safety, along with relevant sections of the Metro Act. According to the news agency, “the accused has been identified as Rambabu Raay, proprietor of Chandrama Water Supply.”
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Despite the damage, officials reiterated that “there has been no impact on metro operations and services are functioning as usual.”
The Aqua Line is a 33.5-kilometre metro corridor and is fully underground. It connects Cuffe Parade Metro Station in south Mumbai to Aarey JVLR Metro Station in the western suburbs.
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