Trial run for entire phase-II monorail to get over in October

Trial runs for the entire stretch of phase-II monorail corridor between Wadala and Jacob Circle will get completed by October this year.

The MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) had carried out three trial runs prior to this that were held between Wadala to Lower Parel starting with the first trial run on August 15, August 25 and September 9.

“According to our tentative plan the final trial run for the corridor would be held on October 31, which would be for the whole stretch starting from Wadala up to Jacob Circle,” said a senior MMRDA official.

However, there are three stages before monorail phase-II alignment can be called safe for plying services. The first is after reports from the internal trial runs, the second by the independent engineer that would be appointed by the MMRDA and lastly by the commissioner of rail safety (CRS) that would approve the corridor to be safe for use.

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 followed by approval from the CRS by February or March. “The phase-II corridor we can say would be open for general public by February or March,” added the senior MMRDA official.

While the MMRDA claims that the phase-II would be functional by February, it is yet to receive the additional five rolling stocks (coaches) that would be used for the second phase. Currently, out 10 rolling stocks only four are fit to ply and rest are under maintenance.

The MMRDA is also set to increase fare structure for the monorail after commencement of the second phase. Currently, the MMRDA charges '5 to '11 between Wadala and Chembur depending on the distance travelled. Due to this the body has been incurring losses of '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.