Monorail phase I operations delayed again

Revised schedule is August instead of January 2013

Launch of first stretch of phase I of Mumbai monorail project yet again has missed its deadline. The 9-km mono line between Chembur and Wadala is expected to be operational by August instead of January 2013 as announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

This is the third time after the project implementation started in 2008 the actual launch of operations has been deferred. Earlier, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is a planning agency for various infrastructure projects in MMR, had projected that the phase I of the Rs 2,900-crore monorail project would start operations in November 2010 which was subsequently postponed to January 2013 and now it has been revised to August next year.

Monorail has recently completed trial runs. A monorail with four cars would have a capacity of 562 passengers while six car one would accommodate 852 passengers.

Monorail project is one of the major infrastructure projects proposed in Mumbai with a total investment of over Rs 60,000 crore. Other projects include metro rail, sea link, flyovers and bridges and additional rail corridors. These projects are in various stages of implementation to upgrade Mumbai's infrastructure.

MMRDA official, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard, "The delay has been due to issues relating to construction and design, rehabilitation of project affected persons. Besides, there were issues also related to seek coordination among various agencies including Mumbai civic body, railways, police and other government departments. The delay was also because of time taken in giving right of way."

The official informed that removal of encroachments and seeking police personnel for the same also hampered the project implementation.

The official, however, hoped that the new deadline of August would be definitely achieved. The official said the phase II would also be delayed following long time taken to put in place clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Further, MMRDA has projected that the phase II of 10.368 km between Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk and Wadala would be operational not before 2014.