MUMBAI: The closure of the Sion Road Overbridge (ROB), a crucial east-west arterial route in central Mumbai, has triggered significant traffic disruptions, leading to severe bottlenecks and congestion.
As the city grapples with these challenges, the monorail system, which has previously struggled with ridership, is now emerging as a potential solution. The state government has enlisted a retired chief commissioner of railway safety to supervise the inspection and certification of a newly upgraded monorail signalling system and a prototype rake. This development is anticipated to be a game-changer for the monorail, which is set to see a new rake introduced into service as early as October.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated dynamic trials of the new monorail rake. These trials are essential to assess the rake’s performance under various operational conditions, ensuring its safety and efficiency before it commences public service. The retired rail safety commissioner is expected in Mumbai next week to conduct the inspection. Upon receiving safety clearance, the new rake will be put into operation, with plans to produce and introduce nine additional rakes over the coming year.
Historically, the monorail’s limited success has been attributed to infrequent service, with trains currently operating at 15-minute intervals. On weekdays, only 142 services are available, a figure that drops to 64 on weekends and holidays. The introduction of ten new rakes is expected to significantly enhance service frequency, potentially increasing the number of trips to over 250, contingent on the final train operation plan (TOP). The MMRDA envisions reducing the interval between trains to just five minutes, a move anticipated to substantially boost ridership.
