Overview

• The full 33.5-km Aqua Line between Cuffe Parade and Aarey JVLR began end-to-end service on Thursday with first trains leaving at 5:55 am.
• Community leaders say current coach and station design leaves out fisherfolk and dabbawalas who carry catch or bundled tiffins, calling it a potential "status divide."
• MMRDA rules allow one bag up to 80×50×30 cm and 25 kg at no charge, or 90×75×45 cm and 32 kg for an extra fare; bundles are barred and raw meat or fish is prohibited.
• Dabbawala leader Subhash Talekar says he asked former MMRDA chief UPS Madan during the design stage for luggage space but was ignored, and workers are now urging accommodation.
• A metro factory expert says adding a separate luggage coach is not feasible on integrated trainsets, though cab-end space could be adapted after stakeholder talks, while Indian Railways is reportedly planning luggage compartments on suburban AC EMUs.