Mumbai Monorail: No Second Coming

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) — the asset owner of India's first Monorail between Chembur and Mahalaxmi — claims that restarting the Monorail operations, which has been non-operational since November 2017, will be a complicated task. The mass transportation system aimed at connecting South Mumbai with eastern suburbs requires more than 1,000 spare parts and new trains to be procured along with a new operator to get India's first Monorail to function.

After missing several deadlines and spending over Rs 2,000 crore, Monorail was finally made operational in February 2014. The operations, however, did not smoothly with several technical glitches reported since the very beginning. Of a total of ten trains, one caught fire while the rest require spare parts to conduct safe operations. While the current operator, which was supposed to procure the parts, hasn't done it yet, the state government is yet to give a go ahead to start off Monorail operations again.

Attempts at finding operator

MMRDA has been hunting for a new operator to run Monorail services since January 2017, but has not been able to find one yet. After it floated the bids four times, two companies namely IL&FS and Reliance Infrastructure placed their quotes. But no appointment has taken place as both the companies quoted more than the MMRDA estimate.

The MMRDA had also initiated informal talks with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to take over the operations, but DMRC did not show interest in the project.

A few weeks ago, the MMRDA has approached the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) for running and maintaining the Mumbai Monorail system. MRVC is currently studying the proposal and looking in to the modalities required to ascertain whether it would be feasible for it to run Monorail.

Services suspended since 8 months

The first phase of Monorail between Chembur and Wadala was made operational in 2014, and it was shut after an empty coach of Monorail caught fire in November 2017. The second phase of Monorail between Wadala and Jacob Circle (Mahalaxmi) is set to be operational, but the MMRDA has not been able to do the same despite having safety clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety because of the past incident.

Safety of commuters overlooked

There have been many instances of the Monorail service being temporarily suspended. One of the recurring reasons for the interruption of the services was problem in electric supply. After incidents like these, a fire broke out in one of the train coaches on November 9, 2017. The incident took place at Mysore Colony Monorail station when the train was being taken to Chembur from Wadala depot for commercial services. However, there were no casualties as the train was empty. As a result of the fire, the Monorail services has been suspended since then, and the service has not been functional for over eight months now.

A single member committee was formed to look into the incident. The conclusions by the investigation panel had pointed out several wrongdoings on part of the current contractor L&T and Scomi Engineering (LTSE) and the Monorail administration, and said these led to the fire. The report also found that the oil being used as lubricant was being reused apart from several other lapses. However, no action has been taken or responsibility has been fixed over the same.

Non functional telecommunication system

DNA had in January 2018 reported how the pilots of Monorail were using mobile phones to report emergencies while operating it for five months before Monorail services were suspended due to the fire in November 2017. Sources had told DNA that pilots were using mobile phones to report emergency as the onboard communication system inside all Monorail trains was not functional. The communication system connects the rail with the main control room.

The proof checking consultant (PCC) for Mumbai Monorail in its monthly reports between April 2017 and October 2017 had said that the onboard communication system in all the Rolling Stocks (Monorail train) was not working, and claimed that it was a major safety concern.

The functioning of communication system of any given transport system like Monorail or Metro is important as the pilot contacts the control room or makes announcements inside the train for commuters during case of emergencies using this. The MMRDA, however, has denied that pilots were carrying cellphones to report emergency situations.

State says 'no' to operations

Few weeks ago, the state urban development department made it clear that it will not grant permission for running Monorail until the MMRDA provides all the required documents to ascertain that the entire project is safe for commuters. This left the MMRDA red-faced. It later said that it will provide all the necessary documents to the state government to ascertain that all the safety precautions have been taken for the commercial operation to begin.

Staff asked to sit home

According to MMRDA, the current operator Larsen & Toubro and Scomi Engineering (LTSE) has recently written to it saying that their responsibilities with regards to operations and maintenance is over. The entire staff associated with the operations at the Wadala depot were sent on leave. The staff have been promised that their pending due of April and May 2018 will be paid soon. This move has not gone down well with the MMRDA which is of the opinion that the LTSE should stay till the appointment of a new operator. However, the LTSE did not comment on the issue.

Arbitration over cost

The MMRDA and LTSE are also involved in an arbitration due to dispute over the construction cost Monorail. The reason behind the arbitration is the cost escalation for the construction of the Monorail. The contractors claim that the expense increased due to the frequent changes in the alignment by MMRDA, which resulted in delay. A three-member team was formed to look into the issue, and the hearing of the case is going on since over two years now. The ongoing proceedings of the arbitration is one of the reasons for the MMRDA to want LTSE to remain onboard the project, besides finding a new operator.

Denying information on arbitration under RTI

The MMRDA has been staunch in not allowing access to the documents relating to the arbitration of India's first Monorail corridor. It has denied to share the information even under a Right To Information (RTI) application filed by DNA. It said that sharing details of the case would 'hamper the proceedings of arbitration'. This happened despite the Central Information Commission (CIC) ruling that documents relating to pending arbitration cannot be withheld except in instances where there is a stay by any court or tribunal.

No sign of spare parts and trains

The MMRDA, while signing the contract in 2008, had asked for around 15 trains of four coaches from the Malaysian operator, but only 10 trains were made available. Of the ten, one was damaged in the fire that took place in November 2017. The rest of the trains are in compromised condition with telecommunication and air conditioning system of all the trains not in functional state.

According to a official from the MMRDA, "We need around 1,300 major and minor spare parts to begin normal operations of Monorail. However, considering there will be only 9 functional trains after procuring spare parts, the MMRDA also intends to buy additional trains."

The LTSE, on the other hand, has been receiving flak constantly for not having the trains repaired even when the problems were reported during the phase-1 of the Monorail between February 2014 and November 2017.

CAG coming down on Monorail

In 2015, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had come down heavily on MMRDA over the construction of Monorail. It had mentioned several fallacies in the project work execution. It had also pointed out as to how several materials required for the project were procured without conducting the legal tendering process.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in the past, had observed that the Monorail project was a 'waste of public money'.

Is Monorail 'waste of Money'?

An independent study by a student of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had also concluded that the first phase of Monorail between Chembur and Wadala is a waste of public money, and added that the decisions taken by the MMRDA since the announcement of Monorail project and during the bidding process were questionable.

The case study reveals that public demand for Monorail was not the major driving force for its route, but political, economic factors had played a vital role in the decision making process. The study also concluded that public consultation was not done while planning and locating stations of Monorail. It said that such top-down approach taken by the MMRDA is the reason that the ambitious project ended up in creating an inaccessible and disconnected public transport system.

Expert comment

The project is complete, but there is not enough trains or required spare parts to run it. I will also like to say Mumbai Monorail is the first project of its kind and everybody is learning here, unlike Metro. Also Railways have a strong background in the technical know-how, but that is not the case with the MMRDA. The only way out is to procure minimum required trains for restarting services of Monorail.
Vishnu Kumar, Former Director of Mumbai Monorail

Fire in the train

A fire broke out in one of the Monorail coaches on November 9, 2017 near Mysore Colony Monorail station. However, no casualties were reported as the train was empty. 
The conclusions by the investigation panel had pointed out several wrongdoings on part of the current contractor L&T and Scomi Engineering (LTSE). 

Timeline

2008

The construction of Monorail started after the MMRDA appointed Malaysia-based Scomi Engineering.

2011

The Mumbai Monorail project was to be ready by 2011, but it couldn’t meet the deadline.

2014

Only the first phase between Chembur and Wadala was made operational. 

2015

The Comptroller Auditor and General of India (CAG) pointed out fallacies in the project.

2015

A rake was stuck mid-section near Bhakti Park, Wadala. Commuters were rescued later.

2016

Services were disrupted thrice due to problems related to tyre bursts, doors opening midway due to problem electric supply.

July 2017

Monorail halted halfway into Chembur station due to power-failure.

Nov 2017

Monorail Phase-1 services suspended due to a coach catching fire.

April 2018

The second phase between Wadala and Jacob Circle gets safety clearance, but has not been operational yet.