The second phase of Mumbai Monorail is likely to be completed only by September 2016. Trials for the same, however, will commence in April-May.
Earlier, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials had stated that the passenger operations will commence in mid-2016. The deadline will most likely be missed now. The first phase between Chembur and Wadala Depot was rolled out for public in February 2014.
"The construction is progressing. The second phase (between Wadala Depot and Jacob Circle) will be ready for trials by April-May," said a senior MMRDA official. "It will take four to five months to conduct testing, trials and safety certification," he added.
Once this phase is commissioned, the ridership is expected to shoot up, as it will connect south Mumbai with eastern suburbs. At Chembur, monorail is linked with Harbour line railway station. Similarly at Jacob Circle, also known as Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk or Saat Raasta, the monorail station will be linked with Mahalaxmi railway station.
The MMRDA and the state home department officials are yet to come to consensus on installing metallic view cutters on the guideway structure to block the view of the Arthur Road Jail from the monorail train. The other conditions set by the home department were to increase boundary wall of the prison as well as to have two watch towers on either side of the jail.
The balance five monorail rakes that are currently under production in Malaysia, too, are likely to reach Mumbai before April. At the moment, 10 monorail rakes are servicing Mumbaikars.
