Officials say operations team ensured trapped commuters were safely transferred to train heading in opposite direction
Passengers who were trapped inside the monorail train are rescued on Monday morning. PIC/MMMOCL
The Mumbai Monorail experienced a technical snag yet again on Monday morning, leaving 17 passengers briefly stranded in a train between Antop Hill bus depot and GTB Nagar station in Wadala.
“The incident was reported at 7.16 am by the Central Police Control. According to officials, swift action was taken by the monorail operations team in coordination with the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) to ensure passenger safety, and all the passengers were safely evacuated by 7.40 am,” an official said.
“The rescue operation was carried out as the Mumbai Fire Brigade personnel arrived to assist the monorail staff. No injuries were reported,” the official added. “By 8.50 am, the fault was rectified and monorail operations resumed. Officials ensured that passenger safety was not compromised during the incident, and emergency protocols were followed,” he added.
The monorail train that briefly experienced a technical snag on Monday morning. PIC/PTI
The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) issued a statement: “Today, a technical snag occurred in one of the mono trains. As per safety protocols, all 17 passengers onboard were swiftly and safely transferred to another train and taken to the next station by 7.40 am. The affected train was being towed away. Passenger safety remains our top priority.”
New SoPs in place
Passenger load regulation
Monorail coaches are designed for a maximum load of 104 tonnes. To avoid exceeding this capacity, station staff have been instructed to strictly regulate passenger entry. If overcrowding is observed, trains are now halted and passengers safely deboarded before resuming operations.
Emergency windows
Every monorail train has eight ventilation windows (two in each of the four coaches). These have been labelled for guidance in emergencies.
Additional staff deployment
Each train now carries a dedicated security personnel to monitor in-coach crowding. Alongside the monorail pilot, a trained technician also travels in it to handle any technical issues promptly.
Enhanced signage
Clear, visible signboards have been installed inside trains, instructing passengers on safety protocols and emergency exits.
Introduction of new rakes
MMRDA has already procured 10 new monorail rakes. Seven of these have reached the depot and are undergoing detailed trials and certification. Once cleared, they will be added to passenger service, increasing capacity and reducing strain on the existing fleet.
What went wrong?
The affected green monorail train was on its way to Wadala when a power supply issue brought it to a halt on a curve. The 17 passengers trapped inside received assistance from the monorail staff inside the train.
The rescue operation
The staff reached out to the control rooms and expedited the evacuation by halting a monorail train heading for Chembur that was coming from the opposite direction. The stranded passengers were then shifted into the latter even before the fire brigade could arrive.
Citizens speak
Shyam Kamble, commuter
‘People reluctantly use the monorail to avoid crowded trains. If there are frequent breakdowns, those who need to reach their destination on time will avoid using the monorail. Commuters are waiting to see when the new trains will start’
Bharat Soni, activist
‘The mistake must be accepted. When we write off bad debts worth crores and pardon the corrupt, why can’t we pardon the monorail?’
Khurshed Lawyer, commuter
‘Is there a conspiracy here? The monorail was a Congress project... and perhaps this is why it is being allowed to rot and ply with age-old rakes despite new rakes worth crores in the stables’
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