Mumbai monorail has been launched in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, as a major expansion of the public transport. Monorail refers to a rail based transportation system which is based on a single rail that forms its only support and guideway. The style of track defines the monorails. Monorails often run at elevated levels, however it is not exclusively so. They form a unique and better transportation system owing to their operations at higher levels which help them to avoid traffic jams and collisions in addition to providing a panoramic view of the bustling city. Monorails obtain electricity from the track structure eliminating the need of overhead power lines and poles.
Monorail in India
After independence, Mumbai monorail is the first monorail of the country since the closure of Kundala Valley Railway and Patiala State Monorail Trainways in 1920s. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has implemented this project in collaboration with Mumbai-based conglomerate Larsen and Toubro and Scomi Engineering, the Malaysian infrastructure firm. The construction of the monorail commenced in January 2009 and 1st February 2014 marks the inauguration of its first operational line by Prithviraj Chavan, the Chief Minster of Maharashtra.
History of Mumbai Monorail
The notification for building a monorail system in Mumbai was provided on 18th August 2008 by the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh. The route of the monorail was decided to traverse trough Jacob Circle, Wadala, Mahul and Chembur along with a feeder service to the Mumbai Suburban Railway. The short-listed firms to take up the charge of constructing the line included Bombardier Transportation/ Reliance Energy/ Hitachi Monorail and Larsen and Toubro/ Scomi Rail. Larsen and Toubro along with Malaysian partner Scomi were announced as the winner on 11th November 2008 and were given the contract of building and operating the monorail till 2029.
Features of Mumbai Monorail
Mumbai Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has estimated through various studies that the monorail produces noise between 65 to 85 decibels which is essentially lower than many other transport services. It has a top speed of about 80 kilometres per hour and an average of 65 kilometres per hour. The overall speed of Mumbai monorail, including the halting time at stations has been calculated to be around 31 kilometres per hour. The capacity of Mumbai monorail has been calculated to be 852 passengers for a six-car and for four-car it is 568 commuters. Per carriage have a capacity of roughly 18 seated and 124 standing passengers, however the capacity of end cars vary owing to the driving position. According to the declaration by MMRDA, for the first two months of operation the Mumbai monorail would operate between 7am and 3pm in a single shift as the system and its operating procedures are quite new to the operators.
