L&T, Malaysian firm to build Mumbai monorail

Mumbai: Larsen & Toubro and Malaysia-based Scomi Engineering Bhd will together build the country’s first monorail system in the city.

The Rs 2,460-crore order for a 19.54-km stretch has been awarded to the consortium by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

Scomi Engineering is among the top three global monorail manufacturers offering urban transportation solutions such as monorail electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock.

The monorail system is expected to ease congestion in the highly-crowded Jacob Circle, Wadala and Chembur areas.

The system will provide connectivity to the existing suburban railways (Mahalaxmi and Lower Parel stations of the Western Railway, Curry Road, Dadar and Wadala stations of the Central Railway) as also to the proposed Metro Rail and will form part of a multimodal transport system for the island city.

Mr Shailendra Roy, Vice-President, Railway Business of L&T, said the elevated track alignment would be along road margins and medians, given the small footprint required.

A pillar would be no more than 80 cm in diameter and stations of about 35 square metres to 40 sq m would be constructed at a height of eight to 12 metres.

The system would encounter two over-bridges en route, where the elevation would have to be scaled up to make a crossover, he said.

Each train would have four cars capable of accommodating 700 persons. The system design would also permit addition of two to four cars.

The proposed design will include supply and operation for a fleet of 15 train sets consisting of four cars in each set.

“We have presented our monorail technology proposals in Bangalore, Pune, New Delhi and Patna in India, Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Bahrain in West Asia, Hanoi (Vietnam), and Lagos in West Africa,” said Group CEO of Scomi, Mr Shah Hakim Zain.

The project involves design, construction, installation, testing and commissioning including trials with initial operation and maintenance from Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Jacob Circle) to Wadala (about 11 km) and from Wadala to Chembur via Mahul (about 9 km) on a lumpsum turnkey basis.

The monorail will have 18 stations enroute.

The project is scheduled for completion in 30 months, which Mr Roy said would definitely depend on speedy clearances from other Government agencies.

The straddle type monorail system where cars move on a single beam in an elevated corridor is said to comply with the highest international standards of safety and reliability.

The design makes it possible to execute the project on fast-track mode as it requires a small footprint with minimal demolition of structures.

Other advantages include greater reliability, high manoeuvrability, lower cost and an eco-friendly design.