In its second month of being fully operational between Chembur and Mahalaxmi, India’s first Monorail witnessed a drop of around 27 per cent in its ridership. The decrease came to light when April 2019’s data was compared to that of March 2019.
According to the data provided by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the city’s Monorail, in its 26 days of operation in March 2019, carried 5.55 lakh passengers. However, it carried a mere 4.03 lakh passengers in its 30 days of operation in April 2019.
The probable reasons for the dip in ridership could be many. It could be the difference in the time of arrival of two trains, which at times would go up from 22 minutes to 45 minutes. Also, Monorail operations got affected in April 2019 due to technical breakdowns. Currently, only four out of the total 10 Monorail trains are functional and the remaining are in need of repair. They require spare parts
DNA had reported on April 17, 2019 that daily, on an average, around 40 per cent trips of the city’s Monorail are cancelled ever since it got fully operational between Chembur and Mahalaxmi on March 4, 2019. This also results in decreasing frequency directly increasing waiting time and travel time of commuters.
According to an MMRDA official, “Presently, four trains are running. We will be putting three more into operation shortly. A tender to procure 10 more Monorails has been floated and in 18 months’ time, we should have 17 Monorails. This will increase ridership and will help a commuter rely on this mode of public transport.”
BETTERING INFRA
- Currently, on an average, the MMRDA carries nearly 17,000 to 20,000 passengers daily
- As per an official, a tender to procure 10 more Monorails has been floated
- In 18 months, city should have 17 Monorails
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