Get set for Monorail phase 2

Work on rail's second phase is 85% done
Setting up of the second line of Mumbai Monorail has drawn many curses from commuters and pedestrians in areas like Parel, Dadar, Chinchpokli, who have been forced to hop and squeeze and honk their way through dug-up and partly blocked roads. But they can hope for relief by the end of this year, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) plans to make the line from Wadala Depot to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk or Jacob Circle operational by December .

As per the plans, the civil work should get over by July, followed by trials and test runs on the system. Then, independent engineers would be invited for inspection.

"Civil work involving reinforced cement concrete and finishing touches is 85% done. After the installation of systems, integrated testing, and safety certification, the second phase is likely to be commissioned by December 2015," said Vishnu Kumar, director, Mumbai Monorail.

For the MMRDA and Larsen & Toubro-Scomi Engineering (LTSE), constructing the second phase has not been an easy task due to narrow roads, traffic congestion, and shaky old buildings along the corridor. On top of this, various utilities like cables and pipelines beneath the roads spring up surprises, since many of their maps are missing.

Wherever usage of heavy machinery was required, work was undertaken at night so as to allow for more road space and minor diversions for the sparse late-night vehicular traffic.

Additionally, permission was needed from the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) for construction of bridges above Wadala and Currey Road railway lines.

MMRDA's master plan for Monorail lays out eight corridors stretching along 169 km, but its implementation has been kept on hold, as the authorities want to see the response to the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle pilot.

2. Wadala and Currey Road Bridges
In a couple of weeks, construction would commence on Wadala Monorail bridge above the railway tracks. The process to get railway blocks to commence work for a bridge above Currey Road rail line is underway.
"Attempts are being made to finish construction of the Currey Road Monorail bridge before monsoon so the road overbridge can be opened and provide for easy traffic movement during rains," said K Vijayalakshmi, additional chief, transport and communication division, MMRDA.

Although the CRS has given clearance to the design and structure of the two bridges, the final nod from CRS and railway authorities about the total number of blocks on train services that will be permitted to erect the bridge is awaited. During the block, train services will be revoked or curtailed. Therefore, the work will be carried out at night as well as during Sunday mega blocks announced by Central Railway for regular maintenance work.

3 VIEW-CUTTERS AT ARTHUR ROAD JAIL
For the purposes of security, view-cutters, two watchtowers, and a higher boundary wall will be erected at Arthur Road Jail on Sane Guruji Marg. The related construction is expected to commence in a couple of months.
"A wall would be built to block the view of the interior of Arthur Road prison. There was some deliberation over the possibility to increase the height of the existing stonewall, but technically, it will not sustain the additional load," said PRK Murthy, head of transport and communication division, MMRDA.

Therefore, a new wall would be constructed either on the pavement or inside the prison compound.

On July 1, 2010, in a high-power meeting chaired by the then home minister RR Patil had decided that steel view-cutters should be installed apart from two new watchtowers on either side of the jail compound.

According to the detailed plan, the wall will be 80 m high. A metallic view-cutter will be installed on the guideway beam structure along the length of the prison wall, blocking Monorail commuters' view of the prison's interior for the 15 seconds it will take the train to pas by the prison premises.

However, the buildings neighbouring the prison continue to get unrestricted view of the premises, and the state authorities have done little from the security perspective.

The pillars outside the prison have been constructed at a distance from each other for easy entry and exit of vehicles. Monorail construction is happening at a distance of 14 metres from the prison wall.

4: SKYWALK INTEGRATION PLAN
Five skywalks or foot overbridges will be built connecting the Monorail stations with railway stations, even as one such bridge already connects Chembur Monorail station with Chembur railway station. "These five foot overbridges that will be connected with Monorail stations will be ready by the end of November," said S P Khade, technical director, MMRDA.

The pedestrian bridges at Jacob Circle Monorail station will be linked to Mahalaxmi railway station, whereas Currey Road Monorail station will be connected with Lower Parel railway station on the western line. A skywalk at Wadala Monorail station will bridge the gap with Wadala harbour line station. Furthermore, Ambedkar Nagar Monorail station in central Mumbai will be useful for people visiting KEM, Tata, Global and Wadia hospitals.A proposed bridge to Bhakti Park Monorail station will help commuters crossing Mahul Creek to reach the station easily.

The seven stations on the 8.93-km-long first phase are Chembur, V N Purav-R C Marg, Fertiliser Colony, Bharat Petroleum, Mysore Colony, Bhakti Park and Wadala Depot. Whereas the ten stations on the 10.24-km-long phase are Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Antop Hill, Acharya, Atre Nagar, Wadala Bridge, Dadar East, Naigaon, Ambedkar Nagar, Mint Colony, Currey Road and Jacob Circle.

5: RIDERSHIP ESTIMATED
All eyes are now focussed on the second phase of Monorail to provide seamless connectivity right from Jacob Circle to Chembur, taking the ridership of the latest transportation system. As per the detailed project report, the 19.5-km-long route will attract a daily ridership of 3 lakh per day by the year 2031.

dna had reported on Sunday that as of January 30, the first phase of Monorail between Wadala Depot and Chembur has seen as many as 50,96,345 commuters.

An affordable, air-conditioned commute free of the noise, pollution and snarls of road traffic will be a draw for passengers. More importantly, while an individual travelling from Chembur to Jacib Circle takes anywhere beyond 75 minutes by road, Monorail will ferry them within 30 minutes.

This would translate into less congested roads below the rail, providing relief to motorists as well, who currently get stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic knots.

6: POPULATION TO BENEFIT
MMRDA's detailed project report indicates that a total of 19 lakh individuals on either side of the line will reap the benefits of the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail stretch in the form of commuting comfort, reduced vehicular congestion on roads, and better access to other modes of transport.

Additionally, Monorail will give a push to the development of its surrounding areas such as Wadala, Mysore Colony, Bharat Petroleum, etc.

The rail's technology is such that it allows the rake to pass through sharp curves, unlike the Metro rail which is relatively stiff.

1. MONORAIL SKYWALKS: Chembur, Bhakti Park, Wadala, Ambedkar Nagar, Lower Parel and Jacob Circle
2. Ridership: 3 lakh per day between Chembur and Jacob Circle
3. Beneficiaries: 18 lakh people each day
4. Travel time from Chembur to Jacob Circle: More than 75 minutes by road 30 Minutes by Monorail