Mumbai Monorail: Transforming the City of Dreams

Introduction

Located on India’s western coast, Mumbai, originally known as Bombay, is a vibrant and busy city. Known as the ‘Financial Capital’ of India, Mumbai is famous for its fast pace of life, tall skyscrapers, lively street markets, and street food. It is home to more than 20 million people with a variety of cultures, traditions, and languages. 

The city offers a fusion of modernity, culture, and history, as evidenced by its famous Marine Drive and other iconic sites such as the Gateway of India. Mumbai is the centre of India’s entertainment industry and home to Bollywood, the well-known Hindi film industry. It is a city that never sleeps and is renowned for its resilience.

Mumbai, a city with 20 million population, is continuously experiencing a rising urban population. Due to this, Mumbai faces substantial challenges. The city’s transport infrastructure is under immense pressure from the increasing number of residents and vehicles. The surge in urban population and vehicular traffic has led to congestion and strain on the existing transportation systems.

Condition of Mumbai’s Public Transport

Given the poor condition of the roads and heavy congestion, public transport is considered the best way to navigate Mumbai. However, the city’s public transport system has struggled to keep up with its rapidly growing population. The overpopulation and rising need for public transport in Mumbai result in overcrowding and road congestion. 

Mumbai operates over 3,000 trains daily and has a fleet of 12,800 buses. Despite having a good amount of public transport, Mumbai faced difficulties in accommodating its people in public transport. The heavy congestion on roads did not allow buses to reach the suburban areas of the city.

To address the rising need for public transport in suburban regions, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) initiated the construction of a monorail line. This project aims to expand and enhance Mumbai’s public transport network, providing a much-needed solution to the city’s transportation woes.

Know About Monorail

The monorail operates on a narrow, single track that can be positioned either above or beneath the railway cars. In systems where the rail is above the cars, wheeled axles run on the overhead rail. In systems where the rail is beneath the cars, guide wheels provide stabilisation. The lightweight structure of the monorail allows it to make sharp turns in congested areas of the city, making it highly suitable for densely populated areas like Mumbai. Monorails are highly preferred in urban cities because their tracks take up less space, making them a feasible solution for addressing the transportation needs of densely populated areas like Mumbai.

The Beginning of Mumbai Monorail

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) proposed a plan for the Mumbai monorail in 2005 to improve urban mobility. In September 2008, the Mumbai monorail was announced as a feeder service to connect Chembur, Wadala, and Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk. This initiative was undertaken for several reasons:

1. Reduce Congestion

The Mumbai Monorail project was initiated for the areas where the roads are narrow and congested. To reduce congestion on roads and avoid property loss for the people, the project was announced.

2. Improve Connectivity

Due to limited connectivity in the suburban areas of Mumbai, the project aimed to link the eastern suburban areas to South Mumbai. It also connects with the harbour line, central line, and western line, enhancing the overall transport network.

3. Eco-friendly Transportation

Compared to metro rail systems, monorails cause less noise pollution and are environmentally friendly.

4. Timely Travel

The Mumbai Monorail reduces the travel time, especially during the peak hours, and reduces the travel time between central and eastern suburban areas of Mumbai.

Key Facts about the Mumbai Monorail

Modern Urban Transport

With its remarkable features, the Mumbai Monorail is an expansion of public transport to make it accessible to sub-urban areas of the city. Travel is quick and easy with the metro, which has a speed of 80 km/h and an average speed of 32 km/h. 

Technical Specifications

The train runs on a 1435 mm standard track gauge and is electrified using a 750 V DC third rail. Safety is ensured through the use of Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology for signaling, which enhances the reliability and security of the system.

Safety and Capacity

The Mumbai Monorail is designed with safety and capacity in mind. Each train consists of four coaches, with a total length of 44.8 meters, and can accommodate up to 568 passengers. This capacity helps to alleviate some of the overcrowding issues faced by other modes of public transport in the city.

Cost and Investment 

The development of the Mumbai Monorail is a crucial financial undertaking, with an estimated total cost of Rs. 24.6 billion. This investment reflects the city’s commitment to improving urban mobility and providing efficient, reliable transportation options for its residents.

Rolling Stock

The rolling stock for the Mumbai Monorail was initially provided by Scomi, a Malaysian engineering company. To meet the growing demand and ensure the continued development of the monorail system, new rolling stock is being produced by Medha-SMH Rail Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with Malaysia-based SMH Rail. 

Lines of Mumbai Monorail

Phase 1

• Status: Operational
• Line: Chembur – Wadala – Jacob Circle
• Total Distance: 19.54 km
• Stations: Chembur, VNP and RC Marg, Fertilizer Colony, Bharat Petroleum, Mysore Colony, Bhakti Park, Wadala, GTB Nagar, Antop Hills, Acharya Atre Nagar, Wadala Bridge, Dadar East, Naigaon, Ambedkar Nagar, Mint Colory, Lower Parel, Chinchpokli, Jacob Circle
• Daily Ridership: Around 16,000 on weekdays and 10,000 on weekends

Challenges Faced During Construction

1. Land Issues

The Mumbai Monorail project required a significant amount of space for infrastructure development, which included tracks and stations. Acquiring the necessary land for the project proved to be a complex and time-consuming process. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) faced bureaucratic procedures and had to address various concerns, which resulted in delays in the project timelines.

2. Removal of Encroachments

Along the monorail route, there were various settlements and structures that needed to be cleared, all without causing displacement or disruption to residents and businesses. This task of relocating affected parties added to the complexity of the project and required careful planning and execution to ensure smooth progress.

3. Approvals

The involvement of multiple stakeholders necessitated approvals at various stages of the project. Coordinating and obtaining these approvals added much time to the project schedule, which contributed to delays in construction.

4. Technical and Safety Concerns

In addition to bureaucratic hurdles and land acquisition challenges, technical glitches, quality control issues, and safety concerns also arose during the construction phase. Addressing these issues required meticulous attention, resulting in additional delays as corrective measures were implemented to ensure the safety and reliability of the monorail systems.

Proposed Lines of Mumbai Monorail

Phase 1

1. Line 2

• Line: Mulund–Goregaon–Borivali
• Distance: 30 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 41.7 billion

2. Line 4

• Line: Lokhandwala–SEEPZ–Kanjurmarg
• Distance: 13.14 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 18,265 million

3. Line 5

• Line: Thane – Mira-Bhayandar – Dahisar
• Distance: 24.25 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 33,708 million

Phase 2

1. Line 6

• Line: Kalyan–Ulhasnagar–Dombivli
• Distance: 26.40 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 36,696 million

2. Line 7

• Line: Chembur–Ghatkopar–Kopar Khairane
• Distance: 16.72 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 36,863 million

3. Line 8

• Line: Mahape–Shil Phata–Kalyan
• Distance: 21.10 km
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 29,329 million

Major Contractors

1. L&T – Scomi Engineering Bhd JV: Design, Build, and Operate Monorail.
2. Consort Digital: Supply, Installation, Integration and Commissioning of the entire project.

Benefits of Mumbai Monorail

1. Reduced Road Congestion

Monorail helped to reduce the traffic on the roads by offering an alternative mode of transportation to the people of the city. It serves as a convenient option for people to travel between Chambur to Jacob Circle, making their travel time less than usual.

2. Urban Development

Monorail has enhanced the overall connectivity of the city with the sub-urban areas of Mumbai. It is strategically located near commercial hubs, residential areas, and tourist attractions, enhancing connectivity and reducing the traffic on the roads. The project has encouraged the development around stations and attracted new businesses.

3. Environmental Impact

Operating on electricity, the Mumbai Monorail helped in reducing air pollution and promoting a cleaner, greener environment. Its lightweight design consumes less energy compared to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, further minimising its environmental footprint. Additionally, the monorail’s operations contribute to reducing noise pollution, benefiting residents along its route.

Existing Monorail Projects around the World

1. Tokyo MonoRail 

The Tokyo Monorail is a prominent monorail system in Japan. It connects Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) with several wards of Tokyo, including Ōta, Shinagawa, and Minato. Spanning 17.8 km along the north-south route, it runs parallel to the western coast of Tokyo Bay and serves 11 stations. 

It offers passengers a combination of safe and fast travel, scenic views along its route, and, on clear days, glimpses of Mount Fuji.

Established in 1964, the Tokyo Monorail was the world’s first operational monorail. The JR pass holders have a facility to make seat reservations online and also get discounts at JR-operated hotels. For the travelers’ convenience, they have a facility for multi-language assistance.

2. Las Vegas MonoRail

The Las Vegas Monorail is a self-operating mass transit system located in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It runs adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip and serves 7 stations. It spans 6.3 km and connects several large casinos in the unincorporated communities of Paradise and Winchester. The monorail’s purpose is to provide safe, timely, and environmentally friendly travel. 

Despite facing challenges such as financial issues, maintenance concerns, and ownership transitions over the years, the Las Vegas Monorail was able to provide a convenient travel option to the people in the city. 

Conclusion

Mumbai’s efforts to update its transport system and solve the problems due to dense population and fast urbanization are tried to be solved by the Mumbai Monorail. It is a major step towards building a more sustainable and effective urban environment. It is designed to reduce traffic on roads, enhance connectivity, and offer environment-friendly transit options. 

Despite encountering various obstacles during its construction phase, including challenges with land acquisition, encroachments, and bureaucratic delays, the Mumbai Monorail project has successfully launched. Today, it serves thousands of commuters daily. 

The Mumbai monorail system has the ability to develop and improve the quality of urban living when compared to other global systems, such as those in Tokyo and Las Vegas.