After 2 monorails got stuck, MMRDA to deploy staff to check overcrowding

MMRDA also rolled out a set of short-term and long-term measures after the two incidents on the Monorail route between Bhakti Park and Chembur; and Wadala and Acharya Atre station Tuesday, amid heavy downpour in the city.

According to MMRDA, station staff have been ordered to strictly manage boarding in order to avoid overcrowding of trains.

“Every Monorail coach can carry a maximum of 104 tonnes of load. In case it crosses the limit, the train won’t budge until passengers are evacuated safely,” a senior MMRDA official explained. Together with this, extra staff will now accompany every train.

Why did the Monorail get stuck?

Initial checks following the first incident on Tuesday indicated that the train had close to 109 tonnes, higher than the designed capacity of 104 tonnes.  This caused the mechanical contact between the power rail and the current collector to break, disconnecting the supply of electricity required to operate the rake.

A senior security personnel will now always keep an eye on the movement of passengers within the coaches and a technician will be with the Monorail pilot to take care of any technical glitches during running.

Emergency preparedness is being strengthened too, the MMRDA said. Each one of the eight ventilation windows in the four coaches of all four rakes is being checked and marked for easy identification.

“This will assist in leading passengers during emergencies and avoid panic,” said the official.

Improved signage with directions for emergency procedures and exits is being fitted within trains to render safety information more accessible.

For the longer term, MMRDA is planning to induct new rolling stock. Ten new rakes were procurred, of which seven have arrived at the depot and are being tried and certified. Upon clearance to operate, these rakes will be put on the line to enhance carrying capacity and decrease the burden on the existing fleet. “The induction of new trains will ensure greater reliability and balance peak hour demand,” the official further said.

MMRDA stated  that after the incident, a rescue team was sent immediately. The stuck train was to be towed by a standby rake, but it could not be shifted as it was overloaded. The Fire Brigade was then requisitioned to help evacuate all the passengers in a safe manner. There were no reported injuries.

According to Central Railway officials, the Harbour Line services were suspended after heavy rains in Mumbai, which pushed huge crowds towards the Monorail. Security personnel’s attempts to control boarding were overwhelmed by the influx of passengers. MMRDA clarified that the Monorail is a low-capacity transportation system intended for small corridors and not a replacement for suburban or metro rails.

“Safety of passengers is our concern. We appeal to commuters to take instructions from security and technical personnel in case of emergencies,” MMRDA stated, while also sharing that a thorough technical review has been initiated so that this does not repeat.