Nation’s first monorail to zip through skies in Mumbai on Sunday

MUMBAI: Sunday will change the way Mumbaikars commute. The country's first monorail will roll out of Wadala for an 8.8-km run till Chembur. With its air-conditioned coaches, access to which will be through smart-card tickets, lifts and escalators at overhead stations, it promises to change the way Mumbaikars travel. A month later, a Metro train will hit the tracks between Versova and Ghatkopar. Work on the Metro began earlier than on the mono, but it is also a more elaborate project.

The inauguration of the monorail will be on Saturday by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at an event in Chembur. "Initially, the service will be operational between 7am and 3pm. The frequency of the trains and the number of coaches will be increased gradually, depending on demand," said MMRDA commissioner UPS Madan.

The monorail will be extended to a 20-km corridor, with work on the remaining stretch—Wadala to Jacob Circle—expected to be completed by March 2015. The Phase I stretch has seven stations, with fares ranging between Rs 5 and Rs 11. "A person will be able to travel by mono by buying tokens or smart cards at every station," Madan said.

Mumbaikars are also awaiting the launch of the Metro. Work on the first phase—Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch—began in February 2008. "Trials are underway, after which approval of the commissioner of metro rail safety (CMRS) will be sought," said a senior MMRDA official.

The project has missed several deadlines, but authorities maintain that the delay is on account of an absence of right of way and the wait for the CMRS's clearance. The Metro passes from above railway tracks in Andheri.

An MMRDA official said there can be no comparison between the Metro and mono projects. While the Metro is a mass rapid transit system (MRTS), the mono is a light rapid transport system (LRTS). Also, the mono has been built on a relatively less congested stretch, while the Metro has been constructed on one of the busiest stretches of Mumbai. Also, the Phase I mono does not pass above railway tracks, unlike the Metro.

Additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwini Bhide said efforts have been taken to ensure bus connectivity with every station through feeder routes. Auto and taxi stands, too, will be provided.

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