Drone survey of monorail routes: MMRDA

Mumbai: MMRDA has decided to carry out a drone survey of monorail routes to document how the project has provided a boost to development of nearby areas. Officials informed that a tender has been issued, eliciting a response from companies interested in conducting the drone survey. The survey will be carried out within three months.

“Being the first monorail in the country, the Mumbai monorail service has its own importance in the infrastructure projects in the state. The monorail project connects Mumbai’s eastern suburbs with the island city. We want to highlight how development has taken place around the entire monorail route,” said an officer.

“Drone technology will be used for the survey. Videos and photographs of areas along the entire route, including phase one and phase two, will be documented to show how these areas have changed,” the officer said. A tender of '8.87 lakh has been floated.

Monorail phase two started operations from March 2019. Phase one was inaugurated in 2014 at the hands of then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

However, while the authority is trying to win brownie points by highlighting development around monorail stations, they have not been able to improve services since launch. Four months after the launch of monorail phase two from Wadala to Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk (Mahalakshmi), the frequency has not yet improved. There is a gap of more than 20 minutes between two services on the route.

The project started in 2008 but faced numerous delays. After 26/11 attacks, the project was also stalled for security reasons. It took 11 years to complete the 19 km line.