MMRDA temporarily suspends Monorail services in Mumbai

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA has temporarily suspended monorail services on Saturday reported news agency ANIFollowing the suspension MMRDA plans to make several upgrades to the monorails For instance the citys metropolitan authorities plan to install a new block to enable faster integration of new rolling stock reported ANITo enhance the operations of monorail services the CBTC signalling systems will be upgraded and the existing fleet will be refurbished during the suspensionEarlier on September 17 the MMRDA had decided to suspend monorail services to improve the monorail service system and prepare it for future needs These services were suspended to enable uninterrupted installation commissioning and integrated testing of new rakes and signalling systems Additionally MMRDA also planned to facilitate the complete overhauling and retrofitting of older rakes to ensure glitchfree performanceDr Sanjay Mukherjee the Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA had asserted that this suspension is a carefully thoughtout step to rejuvenate the MonorailThis temporary block is a carefully thoughtout step to rejuvenate the Monorail By inducting new rakes deploying advanced CBTC signalling and refurbishing the existing fleet we are ensuring that the system becomes safer more dependable and futureready We value the patience of citizens and assure them that when the Monorail returns it will be with renewed strength reliability and the confidence to serve Mumbai better said MukherjeeAdditionally the metropolitan organisation is planning to make major upgrades to Mumbais monorails To enhance safety reduce train intervals and improve service reliability the CommunicationBased Train Control CBTC system indigenously developed in Hyderabad is being installed for the first time in the Mumbai MonorailThis signalling system consists of five electronic interlockings installed at 32 locations It also includes 260 WiFi access points 500 RFID tags 90 train detection systems and several WATC units Moreover in collaboration with SMH Rail MMRDA has also procured ten new MakeinIndia rakes from Ms MEDHA companyCommenting on monorail services Eknath Shinde Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Chairman of MMRDA stated that following the new upgrades the existing fleet will ensure safer and more reliable services for citizens reported ANIThe block of the Monorail is a vital step in strengthening Mumbais transport backbone The introduction of new rakes advanced CBTC signalling and the refurbishment of the existing fleet will ensure safer and more reliable services for citizens This short block is necessary to complete the work with speed and precision With the cooperation of Mumbaikars we will bring back the Monorail in a stronger form said Shinde reported ANIWith inputs from ANI