05 November,2016 08:53 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
After facing a slew of snags for two years, MMRDA has decided to appoint an agency to conduct stringent checks on the Monorail before Phase 2 becomes operational for public in 2017
MMRDA authorities don't want the incidents to repeat once Phase 2 is operational. File pic
MMRDA authorities don't want the incidents to repeat once Phase 2 is operational. File pic
MMRDA is finally on track in correcting its mistakes on the Monorail. The planning authority has decided to carry out a stringent safety assessment of the Monorail through a private agency after facing a slew of snags since it started services in 2014.
MMRDA is spending over Rs 3 crore on the appointment of the agency and an independent engineer. The agency will have a one-year tenure wherein it will conduct timely inspection.
Before Phase 2 begins
The agency has been appointed as Phase 2 of the monorail from Jacob Circle to Wadala is going to be operational in the first quarter of next year. Ever since the opening of Phase 1, the line has been facing a lot of problems, including technical glitches (see box: Monorail snags). The services have also been affected due to power tripping as well as because of incidents wherein the doors of the trains opened during the travel. In another incident, a train's tyre had also fallen on the ground.
MMRDA authorities don't want the incidents to repeat once Phase 2 is operational and for the same, they will be appointing an agency that would have experts conducting the safety assessment from Jacob Circle to Wadala.
MMRDA says
Confirming the same, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Khandare said, "We have already invited the tenders for the appointment of an agency that will have experts who will do the safety assessment of the monorail. The agency and the team of experts will check each and every aspect related to safety before the line is commissioned."
As a part of the safety assessment exercise, there will be three categories of checks and each of them will be divided in three more sub-categories, details of which have not been revealed yet.
Rs 3cr
Amount MHADA is spending on the agency that will conduct safety assessment
12
Deadlines Phase-2 has missed
Phase 2 is 90% done
On August 15, MMRDA held a secret 3-km trial run on the route. It was conducted early morning. Civil construction is more than 90% complete and the work of electrification and signalling is in progress.
