Mumbai Monorail

The Mumbai Monorail is a monorail system under construction in the city of Mumbai, India as part of a major expansion of public transport in Mumbai. The project is being implemented by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), with a consortium of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and a Malaysian infrastructure firm Scomi Engineering. It will be the first monorail in India, since the Kundala Valley Railway and Patiala State Monorail Trainways (PSMT) were closed in the 1920s. Construction began in January 2009.The first line is scheduled to be completed in 2013, with a trial run scheduled for End November 2013.

The decision to introduce Mono Rail, as a feeder service to the Mass Rapid Transit System and cater to crowded and narrow areas was taken on 28th September, 2008 by the Authority in its 119th meeting.

The bus service operating currently in crowded and narrow areas ply at very slow speed thus offering no benefits to the commuters and adding to the traffic congestion. As opposed to this, an elevated Monorail, that can take sharp turns, climb up and down easily, and run at an average speed of 30 km/hr and maximum speed of 80 km/hr, addresses these issues.

It is not only Mumbai's but India's first Mono Rail project undertaken for the 20 km long corridor from Chembur to Wadala and Wadala to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk.

The Rs.2,460 crore (excluding taxes) project has been divided into two parts:

The Master Plan prepared by the DMRC, has been divided into the following phases for the implementation of the project:

·       First phase from Wadala to Chembur is 8.80 km long.

·       Second phase from Wadala to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk is 11.20 KM long.

Mono Rail carries 7,500 commuters per hour per direction and has the capacity to carry 1.5 to 2 lakh commuters daily. Many parts of the city which are not connected by suburban rail system or Metro rail will be connected by Monorail. Besides, Mono Rail will be connected to suburban rail system at Wadala, Curry Road and Chembur. Likewise, Metro-II will be connected at V.N.Purav Marg station. The Mono Rail will be an efficient feeder transit offering efficient, safe, air-conditioned, comfortable and affordable public transport to commuters.