Mumbai’s wait for its monorail just got a bit longer. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) may now begin operations only by September end against the earlier planned September 15 deadline. The state run authority is yet to receive a certificate from the safety commissioner that could delay the the first phase of 8.8-km project from Wadala to Chembur by a few days as of now.
Replying to queries on safety concerns that MMRDA is understood to have raised with the private parties executing the project, UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA said, “There are no serious safety concerns. At the time of trial runs there were certain issues, which were brought to the notice of the contractors and they have been resolved, post which the trial runs have started again. There is no reason for panic as there are no grave concerns. The project will start only after all the concerned authorities are fully assured of safety and security”. However, he added that the earlier planned date for commencement of operations will be shifted by a “couple of days”.
Other officials in MMRDA also dismissed the concerns.
“These are regular practices followed to make the contractors work as per our instructions. There is no safety lacuna in the project,” said another official.
Last week, MMRDA officials in a meeting with the project’s consortium — Larsen and Toubro and Scomi Engineering, a Malaysian infrastructure company ? pointed out to certain shortcomings such as safety on monorail systems, non-availability of rolling stock since last one month and Scomi not being able to arrange spare parts on time.
Madan is also believed to have told the private parties that he was not satisfied with the performance of the operations and maintenance team, which showed lack of experience and training.
However, L&T and Scomi both have maintained that they practice high levels of standards and there will be no exceptions made for the monorail as well.
L&T spokersperson said, “L&T maintains highest standards of safety, which is of international standards, one of the criterion that has got us so many overseas projects. So, monorail will be no different. The project is still under trials and the O&M staff will have requisite experience at the time of its launch to run the project flawlessly.?
Kanesan Veluppillai, chief executive officer, Scomi Engineering said in a statement that it has deployed a full-force of team in India and back in Malaysia to support the project and ensure that it is delivered as per MMRDA’s satisfaction.
?As the first phase of the Mumbai monorail project enters the final stages, we have commenced testing of all the systems…once this testing is completed, the safety, security and quality of the full system will be ratified and certified by recognized international bodies in compliance with our contract with the client,” he said.