Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban District Disaster Management Authorities have directed all Metro and Monorail operators to submit comprehensive disaster management and emergency response plans. The directive follows growing concerns over passenger safety after recent technical breakdowns disrupted operations and left commuters stranded.
According to a senior civic official, the directive was issued during a joint review meeting chaired by the Additional Municipal Commissioner, who also heads the district’s disaster management body. The official emphasised that urban transport systems must be equipped with well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to handle emergencies such as power outages, derailments, or natural disasters. The move comes in the wake of a Monorail breakdown near Bhakti Park in Chembur in August, which stranded passengers for several hours due to a technical fault. The incident underscored the urgent need for robust contingency measures and faster rescue coordination across all city transport networks, including Mumbai Metro Lines 1, 2A, 7, and the Monorail system that connects Chembur to Mahalaxmi.
Officials at the meeting instructed operating agencies to furnish detailed documentation of their existing safety mechanisms, communication protocols, and passenger evacuation strategies. They also mandated that operators conduct regular mock drills in coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) disaster management cell, Mumbai Police, and Fire Brigade to ensure response readiness during emergencies. A senior official from the disaster management authority stated that while Mumbai’s rapid urban mobility expansion is critical to easing congestion and reducing emissions, the city’s complex infrastructure requires “real-time preparedness and layered coordination” among agencies. The official further added that the objective was not only compliance but the development of a proactive safety culture in public transport operations.
Civic authorities are also exploring integration between Metro control rooms and the main disaster control centre to enable swift information exchange and deployment of rescue teams. Experts from the urban transport sector welcomed the directive, observing that disaster preparedness is as vital as infrastructure expansion in a coastal city like Mumbai, which is vulnerable to heavy rainfall, flooding, and power disruptions. As the city moves towards an increasingly interconnected transport future, the initiative marks a critical step in ensuring commuter confidence and operational resilience. Regular monitoring, transparent safety audits, and cross-agency collaboration are expected to form the backbone of Mumbai’s new disaster readiness strategy.
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