Mumbai: Just days after the much-hyped inauguration of the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commuters continue to face a major challenge lack of mobile network connectivity across key underground stations on the newly opened stretch.

The issue, first reported by the media, has left thousands of daily passengers frustrated particularly between Acharya Atre Chowk and Cuffe Parade, where users report zero cellular signal, making it impossible to make calls, send messages, or complete digital UPI payments.

Following the inauguration, the daily ridership of Line 3 crossed 1.5 lakh, but the network dead zones have become a persistent concern.

“We’re trying our best. BSNL has been onboarded and is expected to provide connectivity soon,” said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).

For many commuters, the lack of mobile signal has turned a state-of-the-art metro into a daily struggle.

“I rely entirely on UPI and didn’t carry cash. I had to step out and find an ATM just to get a ticket,” said Manoj Shinde, an accountant working in South Mumbai. “In this age, it’s unacceptable to not have basic mobile connectivity in a city like Mumbai.”

Commuter Vineeta Singh, who boarded from Churchgate, shared a similar frustration. “It’s ironic that we’re encouraged to go cashless, but the system forces us to carry cash. I had to run up to the road level to find a shop willing to provide change for ₹500,” she said.

Patchy Wi-Fi Fails to Fill the Gap

While MMRC claims to provide free Wi-Fi at underground stations to mitigate the issue, passengers say the service is unreliable. Many commuters report that devices either fail to detect the Wi-Fi or cannot complete the mandatory OTP login since the process itself requires mobile network access.

“I always have to ensure my UPI app’s QR code scanner is open before entering the station. Otherwise, I’d have to climb back up to get signal. The Wi-Fi is patchy, and you still need a network for OTP, so it’s a dead end,” said Kunal Sharma, a regular commuter.

Frequent traveler Suhasini Deshpande, who commutes between Worli and Vidhan Bhavan, described the situation vividly:
“As soon as the train stops at a station in South Mumbai and the doors open, people quickly start checking their phones because the moment the train starts moving again, the network disappears.”

The lack of connectivity has disrupted basic services across all major telecom networks, affecting calls, mobile data, and digital transactions essential elements of daily urban life.

According to sources, BSNL users are likely to start receiving network coverage soon in the newly opened phase. However, other telecom operators have yet to cooperate fully with MMRC on the network upgradation plan, meaning users of private carriers may have to wait longer.

Transport experts say while minor glitches are expected in large-scale infrastructure projects, basic connectivity should have been ensured before the official launch.

“The incident highlights the critical need for robust telecom infrastructure in underground transit systems,” said one expert, adding that reliable mobile connectivity is now a non-negotiable aspect of modern public transport.

Kolkata, Oct 13: The father of the second-year medical student said on Monday that he will take the victim back to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate.

The father of the victim also met the West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday afternoon.

Adhikari told the victim’s father that he would arrange the transport facility for the victim. A video of the conversation between the two was also shared on Adhikari’s official Facebook account.

In the video, Adhikari first inquired about the physical condition of the victim. The father said that his daughter was more stable than before. Then the BJP leader advised him that if there was a need for better treatment, then the victim should be taken to Odisha. The father responded by saying that he plans to take the victim to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Adhikari told him that he would talk to the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP leaders and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made in Odisha.

The BJP leader further asked the victim’s father whether West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called him.

In response, the victim’s father said, “We spoke to the Chief Minister of Odisha. But there was no talk with the Chief Minister of West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose expressed concern over the Durgapur incident. On Monday, he left Howrah station for Durgapur in a car.

At the station, he said, “I have taken stock of the entire incident. I am going to talk to the victim. Strict action will be taken against those who did this.”

On Friday, the second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly gang-raped outside the campus in Durgapur after she went out with her male friend for dinner.

The police have arrested all five accused in the Durgapur gang-rape case.

New Delhi, Oct 13: India’s inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined to an over 8-year low of 1.54 per cent in September this year, compared to the same month of the previous year, as prices of food items and fuels turned cheaper during the month, according to figures released by the Ministry of Statistics on Monday.

This is the lowest year-on-year inflation after June 2017, and is also lower than the inflation rate of 2.05 per cent for August.

Food inflation continued in the negative zone for the fourth consecutive month and was recorded at -2.28 per cent during September, the figures showed.

“The decline in headline inflation and food inflation during September is mainly attributed to a favourable base effect and the decline in inflation of vegetables, edible oils, fruits, pulses, cereals and egg. Besides, fuels also turned cheaper during the month,” the official statement said.

The inflation outlook for 2025-26 has become more benign due to large favourable base effects combined with the good southwest monsoon, healthy kharif sowing, adequate reservoir levels and comfortable buffer stocks of foodgrains. The GST rate cuts, which kicked in on September 22, are bringing down prices across goods which will result in reducing inflation further in the coming months.

The decline in the inflation rate gives the RBI more headroom to continue with a soft money policy by cutting interest rates and injecting more money into the economy to spur growth.

The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) on October 1 slashed its forecast for India’s inflation rate for the financial year 2025-26 to 2.6 per cent from 3.1 per cent in August primarily on account of the GST rate cuts and benign food prices.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, “The recently implemented GST rate rationalisation would lead to a reduction in prices of several items in the CPI basket. Overall, the inflation outcome is likely to be softer than what was projected in the August monetary policy committee resolution, primarily on account of the GST rate cuts and benign food prices.”

Addressing journalists after the MPC meeting, Malhotra said that the “overall inflation outlook has turned even more benign in the last few months.”

The RBI Governor pointed out that headline CPI inflation declined to its eight-year low of 1.6 per cent year-on-year in July 2025 before rising to 2.1 per cent in August – its first increase after nine months. Benign inflation conditions during 2025-26 so far have been primarily driven by a sharp decline in food inflation from its peak of October 2024.

Inflation within the fuel group moved in a narrow range of 2.4-2.7 per cent during June-August. Core inflation remained largely contained at 4.2 per cent in August. Excluding precious metals, core inflation was at 3.0 per cent in August.

The RBI Governor further stated that the current macroeconomic conditions and the outlook has opened up policy space for further supporting growth.