MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to procure 10 extra rakes for the 20 km monorail project between Chembur and Jacob Circle. Hyderabad-based Medha Servo Drives Ltd. will deliver the first of ten monorail rakes in February 2023. The Mumbai Monorail will run more frequently now—every 10 minutes instead of every 20–25 minutes with the the new rakes.
“We have decided to appoint an independent agency to ensure that the rakes are world-class,” a senior official said. Trials will be conducted after the arrival of the first rake and after that three rakes will arrive once every three months.
The new rakes would have greater safety features and be more roomy, according to MMRDA. The monorail is currently being run by seven rakes with two remaining on standby. An Indian company would deliver 10 rakes with four cars each for this corridor, according to the MMRDA announcement.
The rakes must be designed by Medha Servo Drives Ltd before being delivered to MMRDA. Modern technology, improved strength and excellent fire resistance will all be features of the new rakes.
According to MMRDA, the maintenance costs will be lower than they were for earlier trains in Make in India initiative. Each coach currently weighs 13.5 tonnes. The load on the guideways and piers will be lessened by the new rakes’ several tonnes less weight.
An official has stated that spare maintenance parts will be easily accessible. The new bogies will also be made of stainless steel much like the metro. The capacity of the new coaches would be at least 10 percent greater than that of the existing ones which can accommodate approximately 568 passengers per train.
In order to serve busy and congested areas, the MMRDA chose to launch the 20 Km-long monorail route Chembur-Wadala-Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk as a feeder service to other transport systems. Monorail can carry 7,500 commuters per hour in each direction and has a daily capacity of 1.5 to 2 lakh people.
Several parts of the city that are not serviced by the Metro Rail or the Suburban Rail System would be connected by the Monorail. Wadala, Curry Road, and Chembur will further act as the Monorail’s linkages to the Suburban Rail Network.
