Bids for monorail safety invited again amid poor response

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has again invited bids from consultants to design an emergency evacuation system for the Monorail corridor.

Earlier, in February, the MMRDA had invited consultants to bid for this work, but nobody came forward leading the authority to again call for consultants. Emergency evacuations are meant to serve in places like Mahul Creek, where there is
no road connectivity at present.  

“The first bid did not get any response, hence we decided to float tenders for the second time,” said a senior MMRDA official. The firm, once appointed, is expected to review the present status of safety measures and design a new system keeping in view accidents like fire. As per the second tender, the companies will have time till May 15 to come forward and bid.  

The safety aspect of the corridor is important since the crucial safety nod to be given by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) had stressed on improving this aspect. The issue was raked up after two rakes of Monorail Phase 1 (Chembur-Wadala) was gutted in a fire in November last year. After the incident, the MMRDA chalked out plans like installing emergency chutes in the rakes. Chutes or escape chutes, are fabric tubes used for emergency exits and are used in places where ladders cannot be deployed.

The MMRDA is hoping to commence the entire corridor Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Wadala to Jacob Circle) soon, and has decided to directly purchase monorail rakes. The authority is yet to decide on the new operator who will run the corridor.