Mumbai Metro Tunnel Damaged During Illegal Borewell Work, FIR Registered

An unauthorized borewell drilling operation has damaged a section of the city's Aqua Line Metro tunnel, prompting the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) to file a police complaint. The incident occurred on March 5, 2026, near Metro Cinema in south Mumbai, when a private water supplier, Chandrama Water Supply owned by Rambabu Raay, conducted drilling without required permissions. This activity caused a small breach or hole in the underground tunnel of Metro Line-3, the city's only fully underground corridor spanning 33.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR. Officials noted the damage affected one side of the tunnel, located about 18 meters below ground, but exact details on the extent were not fully disclosed by MMRC.

An FIR was registered on March 13 at Azad Maidan police station against Raay under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for negligent acts endangering safety, as well as relevant sections of the Metro Act. The filing came after an eight-day delay following MMRC's technical assessment, highlighting procedural lapses in reporting the breach. Despite the damage, metro operations have continued normally with no disruptions to services.

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MMRC emphasized that any construction, excavation, or drilling within the 50-meter 'influence zone' of Metro Line-3 requires prior approval to prevent such risks. The corporation urged all agencies and individuals to adhere strictly to these guidelines, underscoring the vulnerability of critical underground infrastructure to unauthorized activities. This event comes amid ongoing efforts to operationalize phases of the ambitious Aqua Line project.

The Aqua Line, a flagship urban transport initiative, aims to alleviate Mumbai's chronic traffic congestion by connecting key business districts and suburbs. While minor incidents like this have not halted progress, they raise concerns about enforcement of safety protocols in densely populated areas where illegal borewells are common due to water scarcity. Authorities are investigating further to assess long-term structural integrity and prevent recurrence.

No injuries or service interruptions were reported, but the episode serves as a reminder of the challenges in safeguarding Mumbai's expanding metro network amid rapid urbanization. Police confirmed the case is under probe, with MMRC monitoring repairs to ensure commuter safety remains paramount.

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