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Only three functional trains, MMRDA needs 2 more to start Monorail services

The MMRDA hopes to get at least two more trains fit to ply in the next 15 days.

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While Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced of re-starting Monorail services between Chembur and Wadala from September 01, but in reality only three trains out of the total nine are available. The MMRDA hopes to get at least two more trains fit to ply in the next 15 days.

To maintain a frequency of 15 minutes, three trains are not enough, sources from the MMRDA said. This also means that frequency of Monorail services won't be any better than before.

Each Monorail train has four coaches, and it was used to ferry around 15,000 passengers daily between Chembur and Wadala when services were operational between February 2014 and November 2017. Services were later suspended due to a fire incident in a empty train.

Trial runs for the first phase of Monorail started from Wednesday, and currently it is being carried only with three trains for six hours daily between 12 and 6 pm, sources involved in trial runs added.

A source further added, "It is not possible to start operations with mere three trains but at least a total of four to five trains are required considering a minimum of one train has to be on standby for emergencies."

Out of the total 10 trains, one train was damaged due to fire in November 2017, and out of the remaining nine trains only three are functioning while the rest need repairs and maintenance. An MMRDA official said, "We will get two more trains within the next 15 days fom Malaysian operator Scomi Engineering, and rest of the trains are to be repaired by February 2019."

Lack of functional trains is one of the major reasons behind MMRDA not being able to start the services on the second phase of Monorail between Wadala and Jacob Circle.

"For operations on the whole 18-km-long corridor we will require at least 7-8 trains in functional condition. While the remaining trains now will be repaired, Scomi Engineering has to deliver us the balance five trains, as per the plans in 2008," MMRDA official added.

The construction contract of Mumbai Monorail was given in 2008, and the project has been in controversy since its inception due to technical glitches, and has also come under the scanner of Comptroller Auditor and General of India (CAG) over irregularities.

STATE OF AFFAIRS

Wadala-Chembur Monorail operations to restart on: September 01, 2018

Frequency: 15 minutes
Total Monorail trains: 10
Functional Monorail trains: 3
Under maintenance: 6
Damaged in fire incident: 1

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