MUMBAI – Mumbai’s first metro line, the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, continues to grapple with multiple operational challenges. Recent incidents of technical failures, coupled with slow infrastructure upgrades and state government disinterest in taking over the stake of Reliance Infrastructure, the parent company of Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), have exacerbated the issues.
On July 4, new escalators were installed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to connect the railway and metro stations at Ghatkopar. However, this upgrade was overshadowed by two separate technical failures earlier in the week, which forced MMOPL to withdraw metro trains from service. On July 2, one of the rakes failed to achieve the desired speed, and on Thursday, an issue with the air conditioning system necessitated the withdrawal of another rake.
The incident on July 2 caused significant inconvenience, with long queues forming at Ghatkopar, Andheri, and other stations along the Metro-1 corridor. Commuters took to social media to express their frustration. A Versova resident recounted, “The metro halted at Andheri Station for almost 10 minutes, and passengers were simply rushing inside. The doors were kept open and nothing was being done to stop more people from entering.” Another user from Andheri Lokhandwala suggested increasing the number of metro cars from four to six, especially during peak hours, to alleviate crowding. Currently, MMOPL operates 16 four-car rakes, which complete 418 trips daily, with two rakes on standby. Sources indicate that a five-minute delay during peak hours at Ghatkopar can result in a build-up of 1,500 to 2,000 commuters, which can be cleared with additional services within five to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, the state government has refused to take over MMOPL’s stake, valued at ₹4,000 crore, citing a due diligence report that highlighted various technical, financial, human resources, assets, operational, and other irregularities. This refusal has sparked discussions about a potential one-time debt settlement for Reliance Infrastructure. In March 2024, MMOPL signed a one-time debt settlement agreement of ₹1,700 crore with its lenders. Sources suggest that the government, through the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is likely to convene a meeting with all lenders to discuss the settlement. Between April 2023 and June 2024, MMOPL has paid over ₹225 crore in interest to its lenders. Earlier this year, MMOPL and MMRDA made an upfront payment of ₹171 crore, shared equally between the two entities.
Despite these financial maneuvers, the operational challenges persist. The recent installation of escalators by MRVC at Ghatkopar is a positive step, but much more needs to be done to address the underlying issues plaguing Metro-1. The MMOPL spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing situation. As Mumbai’s metro network expands, it is crucial for stakeholders to address these challenges promptly to ensure a reliable and efficient transportation system for the city’s residents.
