Phase II won’t be a smooth ride for MMRDA

With the commissioning of the first phase of monorail on Saturday, focus now shifts on completion of the second phase, Wadala-Jacob Circle. The MMRDA needs to tackle many hurdles to reach the goal of commissioning the entire project.

One of the biggest hurdles is to secure approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety to carry out construction work above railway property in Wadala and Currey Road. Currently, the MMRDA and the railways are in the stage of exchanging construction design. Hence, securing the same will take at least a couple of months.

The other issue will be at Arthur Road Jail, where many security aspects need to be included to ensure commuters do not get a view of the prison.

“Due to space constraints and narrow pavements, we are in the process of clearing place for landings of staircases as well as escalators,” said an official.

The MMRDA has scheduled to open the second phase and the entire corridor, Chembur-Jacob Circle, by March 2015.