Mumbai Monorail To Cut Wait Times In Half With Double The Trains By 2025

From August 2025, commuters in Mumbai will experience significantly shorter waiting times on the Monorail, as the number of operational trains will more than double, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The improvement in travel quality will begin gradually from April 2025.

Currently, the Mumbai Monorail operates with eight trains, six of which are in service daily. These trains carry approximately 16,500 passengers between Chembur, Wadala, and Jacob Circle. The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL), a part of MMRDA, runs and maintains these trains, and plans are underway to increase the fleet size to 18 by August 2025.

According to the report, an MMRDA spokesperson said, "The execution of a comprehensive revival plan has begun. As part of this, we will utilise eight existing rakes and introduce 10 state-of-the-art new ones. In the end, 12 rakes will be operational, with two kept on standby and four reserved for scheduled maintenance."

The existing fleet, which has been in operation for over a decade, has faced several challenges, including maintenance issues, frequent breakdowns, low ridership, delays in the construction of the corridor to Jacob Circle, and disputes that led to a shortfall in the number of promised trains from the supplier.

The full 19.48-kilometre route to Jacob Circle only became operational in March 2019. With only six out of eight trains in operation daily, the service frequency has been limited to 15 minutes on weekdays and 18 minutes on weekends.

The revival plan includes a complete overhaul of the entire rolling stock. MMRDA has already started stocking spare parts, and all the existing train sets will be refurbished. This includes replacing components and updating interiors, along with the installation of a Communication-Based Train Control system to improve safety and align the older trains with the new fleet's technology.

So far, two new rakes have been delivered from Medha Servo Drives in Hyderabad. A third is expected in January 2025, with the remaining rakes arriving throughout the year. By the end of April 2025, eight upgraded old rakes and four new rakes will be ready for commercial service, equipped with Automatic Train Protection (ATP) mode to enhance safety.

Additionally, the Mumbai Metro 3 underground line is expected to be completed by July 2025. This line will be linked to the Monorail at Jacob Circle/Mahalaxmi, which is likely to boost ridership and improve the overall monorail service.