Escalators at monorail stations only by October

Your wait for escalators at the monorail stations between Wadala Depot and Chembur just got longer. They are likely to be up and running only after monsoon.

According to an official, as per the earlier plans, the escalators were to be installed by May and were to be opened to the public from June. “But the latest update is that the escalators will be put up at the seven monorail stations only by October,” said a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority official.

The first phase of the Mumbai Monorail project, which stretches over 8.8km, has seven stations — Chembur, VN Purav Marg, Fertiliser Colony, Bharat Petroleum, Mysore Colony, Bhakti Park and Wadala.
At every station, four escalators will be put up — two at the ground level to the concourse and two from the concourse to the platforms.

When asked about installation work during rains, the official said, “There are dry spells during monsoon. They are sufficient to carry out the work.”
Currently, construction of second phase of Mumbai Monorail is underway between Wadala Depot and Jacob Circle (Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk). This 10.24km-long stretch is scheduled for completion only by March 2015.

The first phase of Mumbai Monorail has witnessed skeletal ridership. Even the corridor is running in losses with the operational cost being more than revenues from ticketing. An average of Rs1,150 is earned from ticket sales for each trip as against the operation and maintenance input cost of around Rs3,500.