Technological Developments in Mumbai on the cards!

Monorail work may start by June

2008 To Finally See Some Movement In Two Major Transport Projects

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is aggressively pushing for the monorail project, which is now expected to be ready for construction by June. According to MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad, pre-qualification bids have been opened and seven firms are in the race.
“At first, two lines, one from Wadala to Chembur and another from Wadala to Jacob Circle, will be built. Later the Jacob Circle line will be extended to Malabar Hill,’’ said Gaikwad.
“A third line from Wadala to the Bandra-Kurla Complex will come at a later stage. A monorail for Thane, Kalyan and even Vasai-Virar is also being discussed,’’ he added.
Gaikwad said it will take 15 to 20 days to shortlist the seven bids. The financial bids will come later and work should begin by May-end, he said.
Last September, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had given the green signal for construction of four monorail corridors covering 70 km in the city and suburbs.
MMRDA officials said the cost of construction will be roughly Rs 85 crore per km and the trains are expected to run at a maximum speed of 65 km per hour.
The monorail is not considered a mass-transit system as it has passengers per direction per hour (PPDPH) of 15,000 as compared to the suburban rail trains, which have a PPDPH of 1.8 lakh. The monorail will serve as a feeder service for the existing railways and the proposed metro lines, said MMRDA officials.
Ambanis in the race
The two Ambani brothers are in the running for the monorail project. Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy Limited has tied up with Hitachi while Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Engineering Associated has tied up with Siemens AG. International giant Bombardier Transportation India Ltd is going it alone while Larsen & Toubro Limited India has tied up with the Scomi Group for the bid. Videcon Industries has tied up with Aerospace USA and Gammon India has tied up with Met Rail (Swiss). There is also another consortium, called KPTL-JMC-INTAMIN, in the race.
ON THE CARDS
Two lines, one from Wadala to Chembur and another from Wadala to Jacob Circle will be built. Later, the Jacob Circle line will be extended to Malabar Hill
A third line from Wadala to the BKC will come at a later stage
Cost of construction: Rs 85 cr/km (approx). The trains will run at a maximum speed of 65 km/hr carrying 15,000 passengers per direction per hr toireporter@timesgroup.com