Ten years after spending more than Rs 2,000 crore on constructing the country's first Monorail project — between Chembur and Mahalaxmi — the whole project, including the first phase up to Wadala, which was made operational in 2014, remains shut. The authorities have not been able to start operations due to lack of spare parts and a scarcity of coaches.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) got safety clearance for the second phase of Monorail between Wadala and Jacob Cirlce almost two months ago in April, but has not been able to make the Monorail corridor operational due to lack of trains and spare parts.

An MMRDA official said, "We require a minimum of seven to eight functional trains to start the operations; and we need spare parts to make these trains functional. Currently, around five to six trains are functional."

However, the MMRDA claims that due to the overall project running at a loss, its Malaysia-based contractor is not able to procure the spare parts. So, now they are exploring ways to work on modalities that would facilitate direct payment to the vendors of the contractor.

The MMRDA is also unable to appoint a new operator for the project as both the companies who have responded to the tenders, have quoted more than MMRDA estimations pegged at Rs 1,000 crore for operating Monorail for 10 years.

According to MMRDA, IL&FS quoted Rs 2,000 crore to operate Monorail for 10 years and Reliance Infrastructure quoted Rs 6,408 crore for the same.

Meanwhile, RA Rajeev, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, said, "We are working on all legal formalities for procuring spare parts for the second phase and also for appointing a new operator. We will negotiate with IL&FS, considering its bid was the lowest."

EXPERT SPEAK

SP Khade, Former MMRDA official, who was involved with the Monorail project, said, “Monorail cannot be called wastage of money, but I will agree that phase-1 did witness lesser traffic. The second phase, however, will pass through heavy traffic areas and will connect railway stations like Wadala, Currey Road, Lower Parel, and Mahalaxmi.

SO FAR...

2008: Construction of Monorail starts.

2011: Monorail project was supposed to be launched.

2014: Gets delayed; only first phase between Chembur and Wadala made operational.

Since it was made operational, sevral breakdowns and technical glitches began being reported.

2015: The Comptroller Auditor and General of India (CAG) also pointed out fallacies in the project.

2015: A rake was stuck mid-section near Bhakti Park, Wadala after which commuters were rescued.

2016: Services were disrupted thrice due to problems related to tyre bursts and tyre falling off the rolling stock. Services also disrupted several times over door opening issue or problems in electrification.

July 2017: Train halted halfway into Chembur station due to power failure.

November 2017: Monorail phase-1 services suspended due to train catching fire.

April 2018: The second phase between Wadala and Jacob Circle gets safety clearance in April 2018, but not been made operational yet.