Set to impose fines on the contractors for delaying operations, starting today
After missing the December deadline, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is focused on starting the operations of the Monorail Phase I as well as Phase II in January. The completion of the 10.24 km-long monorail corridor from Wadala to Jacob Circle has missed several deadlines for starting it's operations since 2011, with four deadlines being missed in 2017alone.
According to official sources, the MMRDA will be imposing a fine from January 1 on the L&T Infrastructure-Scomi Engineering contractor for the continuous delays. “We have sent a notice to the contractor and we will fine them 7.5 lakh per day from January 1,” said Sanjay Khandare, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.
The MMRDA is planning to start both the Monorail services in January 2018. After a fire gutted two coaches on the rake of the Monorail Phase I corridor (Chembur-Wadala) in November, the services of the same have been suspended until date. The repair works of the Mysore Colony Station as well as the rakes are still being carried out. According to MMRDA officials, once the safety tests are done, the Phase I corridor will start in January 2018.
The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) is still conducting all the necessary tests for the safety of passengers who would commute on the Monorail Phase II. “We are making sure that both the corridors start operations in January 2018,” said Khandare.