The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has taken action to improve safety on the Mumbai Monorail after a break down of the train between two stations on Tuesday.
A Mumbai Monorail train abruptly came to a halt between Acharya Atre and Wadala Monorail stations on the evening of August 19, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded mid-air for over an hour. The Mumbai fire brigade, police and other emergency services joined the rescue operations following which all the passengers were safely rescued.
The authorities are now introducing immediate and long-term steps to make sure such incidents do not happen again, an official statement said.
The passenger safety is the MMRDA and MMMOCL`s (Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited) top priority, the statement said, adding that the both have asked all staff to be more alert and are working to make the Monorail system more secure and reliable.
It said that the Monorail coaches can carry up to 104 tonnes. To prevent overcrowding, station staff will now limit how many people can board. If a train is too full, it will stop, and passengers will be asked to safely get off before it continues.
Each Monorail train will now have a security guard to keep an eye on crowding. A trained technician will also travel with the pilot to fix any technical issues right away. Every Monorail has eight ventilation windows — two in each coach. These are being checked and clearly labelled so that passengers know what to do in an emergency, the statement said.
Clear signs have been added inside the trains to guide passengers on safety steps and how to use emergency exits. The Director of Maintenance has been asked to inspect every Monorail train to make sure all safety rules are being followed, it said.
It further said that the MMRDA has bought 10 new Monorail rakes (trains) and seven of them have already arrived and are being tested. Once they pass safety checks, they will be added to the regular service. This will reduce pressure on older trains and help improve the overall service.
The MMRDA said that the Monorail is an important transport option for people in Mumbai. All the new changes — from short-term fixes to adding new trains — are focused on making the journey safer and more comfortable for everyone.
