Mumbai monorail phase 2 corridor frequency to be affected after blaze

Mumbai: Despite the recent fire that gutted two coaches of a monorail train along the Wadala-Chembur corridor, MMRDA is confident that phase 2 of the monorail will begin by December this year.

However, the fire has affected the proposed frequency of phase 2 as the number of monorail trains has been reduced from eight to seven. The authorities also admitted that the fire had pushed back the testing schedule of phase 2.

A senior MMRDA official said, “We are in a position to approach the CRS (commissioner of railway safety) and we expect that things will get done soon. The second phase of the monorail will be commissioned by December. Due to the fire incident, the number of rakes running for phase 2 will be seven instead of eight.”

The MMRDA had bought 10 rakes for the monorail but only four were operational for phase 1 (Chembur-Wadala).  The authorities resumed monorail services on November 9 after the fire gutted two coaches however an inquiry has been initiated into the incident.

Read: Mumbai monorail catches fire at Mysore Colony station; no casualties

The Asian Age had reported in its November 5, 2017, edition about delay in conducting trial runs for phase 2. “The fire has pushed back testing schedules for a week. Testing has been stopped for now,” the official said. Despite trial runs getting delayed, the authorities seem to have completed formalities to begin the Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor by December.

The MMRDA needs to procure five additional rakes from Scomi, the contractor for monorail. According to the official, the contractor will take another one year to deliver the new rakes.