The MMRDA had, earlier this year, called for bids from companies to operate the Chembur-Mahalaxmi Monorail corridor for a period of 10 years
The condition of the Monorail is not going to get any better as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has scrapped a bidding process for appointing a new operator to run the modern rail. It has shot down offers from two companies, namely IL&FS Rail Limited and Reliance Infrastructure, citing that the lowest bidder, IL&FS, is facing financial trouble, and its quotation was way more than the scale estimated by the authorities.
The MMRDA had, earlier this year, called for bids from companies to operate the Chembur-Mahalaxmi Monorail corridor for a period of 10 years, estimating that the expenditure was to be Rs 1,000 crore for this period. But both the bids, by IL&FS as well as by Reliance Infra, were higher than the authority's estimate — at Rs 2,000 crore and around Rs 6,000 crore respectively — MMRDA claimed.
"There was also a round of negotiations between us and IL&FS about bringing down the cost. But the financial institute is facing money trouble. Its subsidiaries have filed a petition in the National Company Law Tribunal for debt restructuring. We do not feel like negotiating with them any more and have scrapped the bidding process," an MMRDA official said.
This means that Monorail will continue to be in the hands of Malaysian operator Scomi Engineering, who in partnership with Larsen & Toubro built it and has been running it since February 2014.
The partnership, known as LTSE, operates Monorail's first phase between Chembur and Wadala at a rate of Rs 10,400 per trip.
MMRDA officials said talks had been initiated with Mumbai Rail Vikas Limited. "But they have not yielded result considering nothing significant has materialised till now," added the MMRDA official.
Ever since it started in February 2014, Monorail has been in news for constant breakdowns It has also come under the nations Comptroller And Auditor General's scanner over irregularities.
A DOWNHILL TRIP
2008
Monorail construction starts after MMRDA appoints Malaysia-based Scomi Engineering
2011
Monorail misses its deadline
2014
Only the first phase between Chembur and Wadala is made operational
2015
Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) points out flaws in the project
2015
Rake stuck mid-section near Bhakti Park, Wadala. Commuters rescued later
2016
Services disrupted thrice due to tyres bursting or coming off the rake. Doors began opening midway because of problems in electric supply, sparking mistrust and panic
July 2017
Monorail halts halfway to Chembur station due to power failure
November 2017
Service on Phase One, plying between Chembur and Wadala, of the Monorail suspended after coach catches fire
September 2018
Phase One restarts on September 1, but its ridership has since gone down
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Monorail")
)
This means that Monorail will continue to be in the hands of Malaysian operator Scomi Engineering, who in partnership with Larsen & Toubro built it and has been running it since February 2014.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}