News Detail

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">With the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) getting final safety clearances for the monorail system from experts in Indian Railways, Mumbaikars will soon be able to travel by the country&rsquo;s first monorail.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The first phase of the 8.26 Km route from Chembur in suburban Mumbai to Wadala in Central Mumbai is likely to be open for commuters within seven days.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">By mid-2015, the second phase of 11.28 Km connecting Wadala with Mahalaxmi in South Mumbai is also expected to be commissioned.&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">Malaysian infrastructure company Scomi, in a joint venture with L&amp;T, is executing the full project, which is expected to cost MMRDA INR 3,000 crore.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Additional Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, Ashwini Bhide, who has been a driving force behind the project, feels that the service will offer a comfortable alternative to commuters although the route will not make enough commercial profits.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial"><strong>Status of the second phase of the project</strong></span></span></span><br /> <span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">Today, about 90 percent of the civil works of the route, which will connect Wadala with Mahalaxmi, has been completed. Simultaneously, stations are also being constructed.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Permission has also being sought from Railway authorities for constructing the elevated track over the existing railway lines in Central Mumbai. Before the onset of monsoon season, the civil works would be completed. In effect, the second phase is likely to be ready in 15 months.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial"><strong>When can the citizens of Mumbai expect the ride on the monorail?</strong></span></span></span><br /> <span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">The first phase of the 8.26 Km route would be operational &lsquo;any day&rsquo;. The physical construction of the elevated route was completed about a year ago. Since then, we have been carrying out independent and integrated safety test for traction, signalling, rolling stock and communication.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The entire tests have been carried out by six independent safety assessors. Singapore Metro Corporation has also certified the route for all safety parameters.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">These 12 months were also utilised for handing over the route from the projects team, which undertook the construction to the operation and maintenance team.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Since monorail comes under the purview of Tramways Act, the State Government has appointed the former Commissioner of Railway Safety as an advisor. He has also given the safety approval. With his clearance, the metro is ready for commercial operations.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Only the final clearance in the form of a notification from the Urban Development Department of Maharashtra Government is awaited. The metro is fully prepared for the launch.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>