Good news for Mumbai! Monorail could resume services soon

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is striving hard to restart this new mode of transport to provide Mumbaikars another option to commute. Monorail services, which were first introduced in 2014, could have facilitated residents of Mumbai in a better way during rains when Railways services are hit by waterlogging. Due to several setbacks, this transit network was stopped and could not resume for long. However, the Chembur-Wadala Monorail services, which were shut last year, are expected to resume by year end, according to a DNA report. MMRDA has asked operator and maintenance contractor Larsen & Toubro and Scomi Engineering to restart operations.
 
However, the transit network's much-awaited second phase - Wadala to Mahalaxmi - will continue to remain work in progress.
 
Ever since its introduction in 2014, the first in the country, the Mumbai Monorail has reportedly witnessed many hurdles with the most recent being sending the entire staff on leave without pay since April. 
  
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which so far procured 10 trains, but four to five rakes were in use till the entire operation was stopped following a fire in November 2017, said the DNA report, which also cited officials saying that shortage of trains and spares are the biggest hurdle for MMRDA to expand the route.
 
Talking about resumption of the monorail operations, an MMRDA official told DNA, “They have been told to submit a plan based on which we will release some payment so that the staff can paid,” and added that MMRDA and LTSE have decided to start Phase 1 operations by October 2018. 
 
“Scomi has also promised to deliver the balance five rakes it is yet to manufacture. Also, all trains will be refurbished  by February 2019,” the official further told DNA. 
 
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Notably, the transport system used to log a daily footfall of 15,000 commuters. It is yet to be seen if the new fare chart, which could push up ticket prices a bit from the earlier rates of Rs 5-11, will have any impact on the ridership.