While the operations of Mumbai Monorail was already running in losses burning a hole in the pocket of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the per trip cost for operations is now set to increase by more than 100 per cent. A report prepared by a independent single member committee has suggested per trip rate of running Monorail to be around Rs 10,600, up from Rs 4,600, MMRDA officials said.
A MMRDA official said, "The report was prepared by former Central Railway General Manager Subodh Jain, and it has also suggested something similar on the lines of manpower management in context of number of people required for oeprations of Monorail. This to make the quotation of around Rs 10,600 look more viable against the quotation of around Rs 18,000 by operator Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Malaysian Scomi Engineering."
The MMRDA plans to restart the first phase of Monorail between Chembur and Wadala starting Saturday after the same were suspended 10 months ago in November 2017 owing to fire incident. While the second phase between Wadala and Jacob Circle is expected to start by March 2019.
According to MMRDA officials, they're in the process of sending the proposal to LTSE and the same will be applicable from Saturday when the first phase of Monorail is restarted.
This also means to trip rate between Chembur to Wadala and back to Chembur will be around Rs 21,200. Compared to Rs 9,200 that was upto November 2017.
The definition of one trip is considered as when Monorail travels from Chembur to Wadala it is said one trip, and Wadala to Chembur is considered as a second trip.
This also means, if the second phase between Chembur and Jacob Circle is made operational, the total trip rate between Chembur to Jacob Circle and Jacob Circle towards Chembur would be more than Rs 40,000 compared to Rs 19,200, as per current trip rates till November 2017.
JOURNEY SO FAR
2008 The construction of Monorail started after MMRDA appointing Malaysian based Scomi Engineering.
2011 The Mumbai Monorail project was to be ready.
2014 However, it got delayed and only first phase between Chembur and Wadala was made operational.
2015 Top government auditor CAG also pointed out fallacies in the project.
2015 A rake was stuck mid-section near Bhakti Park, Wadala after which commuters were rescued.
2016 Services were disrupted thrice due to problems related to tyre bursts and tyre fall of the rolling stock. Services were also disrupted several times due doors opening or problems in electrification.
July 2017 Monorail halted halfway into the Chembur station due to power-failure.
Nov 2017 Monorail phase-1 services suspended due to Monorail catching fire.
