End-to-end Monorail Phase II trial run a success

After years of delay, an end-to-end trial of the second phase of the Mumbai Monorail was successfully carried out on Thursday, with the monorail finally reaching its destination at Jacob Circle (Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk or Saat Rasta).

The monorail's maiden trial run was carried out on the entire alignment of the second phase —from Wadala Depot to Jacob Circle. "In the days and weeks to come, more trial runs will be conducted to test several safety parameters to ensure the system is safe for public use," said a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) official.

Trials will be held on a daily basis starting February 10.

On previous occasions, trial runs were held on part of the route. The first trial was conducted till Mint Colony, while a second trial was conducted up to Lower Parel. In November 2016, a conductor rail got dislocated, further delaying the transportation project that promises to decongest the narrow roads between South Mumbai and Chembur.

However, it will take a few more months for the MMRDA to commence passenger operations. MMRDA officials said that the entire route will be operational by May 2017.

The 20-kilometre project was supposed to be completed by 2010. Of the 15 monorail trains, five are yet to arrive from Malaysia. If these rakes do not get commissioned before commercial operations begin, Mumbaikars will have to contend with irregular train services.