Mumbai Monorail services remain suspended as MMRDA awaits IIT Bombay’s technical recommendation on covering gaps between the two elevated guideways. The measure is aimed at improving passenger rescue arrangements and preventing objects from falling onto roads below. The authority will decide on resuming operations after implementing the recommended solution.

MMRDA is seeking a technical solution for the gaps between the Monorail’s elevated guideways before operations can restart | AI Generated File Image

Mumbai, September 1, 2026: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is awaiting a technical recommendation from IIT Bombay on measures to cover the gaps between the two elevated guideways of the Mumbai Monorail before services can resume, officials said.

The gaps between the parallel guideways are being examined from a safety perspective, particularly to facilitate the rescue of passengers in the event of a Monorail rake becoming stranded between stations.

According to officials, stations on the corridor are roughly a kilometre apart, and reaching a stranded rake by road could take around 10 minutes or longer depending on traffic and other road conditions.

The need to cover the gaps has also been linked to the Monorail's alignment, which includes sharp curves. Officials said that in the event of an object falling through the gap onto the busy road below, it could pose a risk to motorists and pedestrians.

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Unlike conventional Metro and suburban railway systems, where trains receive electricity through overhead wires or other fixed electrical systems, the Monorail draws power through its guideways.

Officials said this means that simply relying on a standby rake operating on the adjacent guideway may not provide an adequate rescue arrangement in every emergency situation.

MMRDA has therefore sought IIT Bombay's technical suggestion on an appropriate mechanism to cover the gaps. The institute is yet to submit its proposal, following which the authority will examine and implement the recommended solution before taking a final call on resuming operations.

Services Suspended For Nearly A Year

The Monorail has remained off the tracks since September 20, 2025, when MMRDA announced a prolonged suspension of services to undertake a major modernisation programme.

The shutdown was intended to facilitate the integration of new rolling stock, upgrades to the CBTC signalling system and refurbishment of the existing fleet.

MMRDA had said that when services were operational, only about 3.5 hours were available each night for installation and testing because trains ran from 6.15 am to 11.30 pm.

The limited maintenance window had slowed the work, particularly because safety procedures require the power supply to be switched off, discharged and subsequently restored before daily operations.

The extended block was planned to allow uninterrupted installation, commissioning and integrated testing of the new rakes and signalling systems, besides comprehensive overhaul and retrofitting of older trains. It would also enable manpower training and redeployment for upcoming Metro operations.

Modernisation Unlikely To End Losses

Despite the planned technological upgrades and introduction of new Made-in-India rakes, the Monorail is unlikely to become operationally profitable as per the MMRDA official.

The authority expects the system's annual operational losses to fall from around Rs 180 crore to approximately Rs 120 crore after modernisation, but due to its permitted passenger-carrying capacity remains a constraint on its ability to generate sufficient revenue.

Before the suspension, weekday ridership was around 16,000 passengers, while weekend ridership stood at approximately 10,000. Officials expect patronage to improve substantially once the Monorail is integrated with the expanding Metro network.

Multimodal connections, including the Metro Line 2B connection at VN Purav Chowk monorail station with Chembur metro, as well as the Mahalaxmi skywalk and travelator, are expected to improve the Monorail's catchment and encourage greater use to the eastern suburbs.

A Troubled Journey Since 2014

The Monorail began operations in February 2014 on the 8.8-km Chembur-Wadala stretch. The second phase, extending the corridor towards Jacob Circle, in Mahalaxmi was inaugurated in March 2019.

However, frequent technical glitches, fires, service disruptions and a shortage of rolling stock affected its reliability and ridership. Initial projections had envisaged nearly 30 lakh passenger journeys a month after completion of the full corridor, but actual patronage remained far below expectations.

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The project was originally awarded in 2008 to a consortium of L&T and Malaysia-based Scomi. Following repeated operational and contractual issues, MMRDA terminated Malaysian-based company Scomi's contract in 2018 and subsequently took over the system's operations.

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