Mumbai Monorail system, India's first monorail operations, will commence operations from Feb 1, 2014.
Out of 19.17 km of Mumbai Monorail corridor, the first phase of 8.9 km from Wadala Depot to Chembur will be inaugurated by the chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chauhan at Chembur Monorail Station.
The corridor will connect central (Wadala)-eastern (Chembur) suburbs of the Mumbai city. It will be open for public operations from Feb. 2, 2014.
The first phase has been developed with an investment of $175 million funded by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the nodal agency for developing infrastructure in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The construction activities has been done by engineering giant, Larsen & Turbo and the operations and maintenance will be done by Scomi , Malaysian company.
"Currently, we will be running services from morning 7 hrs to 15 hrs with 4 rides per hours with an interval of 15 minutes" said Ms. Ashwini Bhide, additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA on Jan. 30, 2014.
After a month of operations, we will review the interval time and operations time that can be extended to 19 hours a day, Ms Bhide added.
"Fares of the first phase is $0.07 to $0.17, one can also use smart cards for traveling. However, there is no monthly pass or students discounts, UPS Madan, MMRDA chief told reporters on Jan. 30, 2014.
Seven stations on the 8.93-km long phase-I of are Chembur, V.N.Purav/RC Marg Junction, Fertilizer Township, Bharat Petroleum, Mysore Colony, Bhakti Park and Wadala Depot.
On security at Monorail stations, Madan said, "All stations are equipped with necessary security arrangement, like baggage scanners, armed security guards at all stations entry points, CCTV camers, others."
"Phase II will be completed by 2015 on which additional $305 million be spend taking the overall investment to $485 million," Ms Bhide said on the status of second phase.
Monorails will use regenerative braking system which will enable about 25% saving in power consumption and will have advanced passenger driver communication.
After completion of second phase from South Mumbai's Jacob Circle to Chembur, Mumbai Monorail will become world second largest Monorail corridor after Japan's Osaka Monorail corridor, which is 23.8 km.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
