For the fifth time in two years, the MMRDA has rescheduled the completion date of India’s first monorail. This time, the deadline for holding commercial operations between Chembur and Wadala is December 2012, but officials said it would only be possible if everything falls in place as planned. Otherwise, there would another delay of a month or two.
As The Asian Age reported on March 11, MMRDA officials had said the monorail would be ready by the end of 2012.
“All rehabilitation and resettlement issues on Phase-I have been resolved, so now there are fewer uncertainties. We are looking at December end to start monorail operations. But if more time is needed for certification, there may be another couple of months’ delay, which takes it to sometime in early 2013,” said Rahul Asthana, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
Chembur-Wadala (8.922 km) is part of Phase-I, whereas, Wadala-Jacob Circle (10.368 km) is under Phase-II. “The second phase will take a year more after the commercial operations of the first commence,” Ashwini Bhide, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, said.
Currently, 90 per cent of work on Phase-I is over; launching of 17-18 beams, along with several tests and certifications, and the finishing touches to the stations are left.
In Phase-II, only around 45 per cent of work has been completed. “Work on 90 per cent of pile foundation, 78 per cent of pile caps, 50 per cent of piers is over. Beam castings for the second phase can start in full swing as all the casting bases are almost vacant,” Ms Bhide added.
MUMBAI MONO RAIL PROJECT
PHASE I
PHASE II
SHIFTING DEADLINES
December 2010
May 2011
May 2011
December 2011
November 2011
May 2012
May 2012
December 2012
December 2012
December 2013