Commuting in India’s commercial capital Mumbai is set to get smooth with the expected commissioning of the first phase of the Mumbai Monorail Project by the year-end. The project that is worth Rs 2,460 crore is the brainchild of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA). It is being undertaken by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and Malaysian engineering firm Scomi Group. The monorail underwent its first trail on January 26, 2010 and phase I of the project covers Wadala to Chembur via Mahul.

Monorail to make journey hassle-free

In this context, Vaibhav Shah, managing director of Vaibhav Travels, a mid-sized transportation firm in Mumbai says, “Mumbai is one of the most populous city of India and each day the number of commuters is increasing. We hope that the monorail will ease Mumbai’s traffic movement, thereby bringing about a much needed relief to the daily passengers. The same will also encourage people to avail public transportation system instead of commuting private vehicles.”

The project, first-of- its kind in the country, is a contemporary urban transport system, where cars will ply in an elevated corridor on a single beam. Each car, fully air-conditioned, can accommodate up to 130 people. “The monorail will not only solve the traffic chaos in Mumbai, but also help the city to boast of a world-class transport facility,” says Kedar Srikrishna Kasar, proprietor of KK Travels, a mid-sized transportation firm in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, L&T’s executive vice president, Shailendra Roy said that the second phase of the project covering Gadge Maharaj Chowk to Wadala is likely to get completed by December 2011. He also added that L&T and Scomi Group will be in charge for maintenance of the monorails for 3 years following the completion of the project. After 3 years, the maintenance contract may be extended or it can be taken over by MMRDA. The coaches for the monorail are being constructed at Rawang near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Arup Choudhury