The third Monorail trial run is seen at Currey Road, in Mumbai. (Photo: Shripad Naik )
The third Monorail trial run is seen at Currey Road, in Mumbai. (Photo: Shripad Naik )
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) conducted its third trial run between Wadala and Lower Parel for its phase-II Monorail corridor between Wadala and Jacob Circle on Friday.
“We have prepared a tentative schedule for carrying out trial runs on the phase-II Monorail and one was carried out on Friday in accordance to the schedule. The trial run was quite satisfactory and it was held to check the alignment as the corridor passes through densely populated areas and sharp curves. According to the plan, the next trial run is scheduled for October 30,” said Sanjay Khandare, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
Earlier the MMRDA had carried out similar trial runs between Wadala and Mint colony on August 15 and August 25. The fourth trial run scheduled for October 30 would be for the entire corridor that is between Wadala and Jacob Circle.
The MMRDA has claimed it would complete unfinished civil works related to phase-II like that of staircases and installing various electrical fittings on the monorail stations by December. “Once the trial runs are completed from our end, we would seek an approval from the commissioner of rail safety (CRS) and, by February or March, the second phase could be open for general public,” added Mr Khandare.
MMRDA is also set to increase the fare structure for the monorail after the commencement of the second phase. Currently, MMRDA charges Rs 5 to Rs 11 between Wadala and Chembur depending on the distance travelled, due to which the body has been incurring losses of Rs 10 lakh per day despite the number of commuters using Monorail having increased from approximately 14,000 to 19,000 per day, since its inception in 2014.
