After prolonged disruptions and repeated breakdowns, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority on Friday announced that the Mumbai Monorail’s new rolling stock (RST) has received safety certification. However, passenger services remain suspended, with no confirmed restart date yet declared.
The upgraded trains are equipped with a communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling system, replacing the earlier track-circuit-based technology. CBTC uses continuous wireless communication to monitor train positions in real time, enabling closer yet safer train operations. The previous system relied on electrical circuits within the tracks to detect train presence.
According to MMRDA, an independent safety assessor granted certification after factory inspections, trials, and extensive static and dynamic tests were successfully completed. Still, final statutory clearance is pending. The urban development department must appoint an engineer to conduct a comprehensive corridor inspection before services can resume.
The nearly 20-km monorail corridor connects Chembur to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk at Byculla. In 2025, operations were halted three times due to power failures and technical faults, including two incidents in August and one in September. Following the third disruption, services were suspended. “The suspension will facilitate the commissioning of new rolling stock, implementation of advanced communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling, and refurbishment of the existing fleet of monorail trains,” the MMRDA’s statement read at the time.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde termed the certification “a definitive assurance of MMRDA’s commitment to providing a secure and modern travel experience for every Mumbaikar”. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called it “a reflection of Maharashtra’s uncompromising commitment to commuter security and indigenous innovation.”
Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said, “The modernisation of the Mumbai Monorail is a cornerstone of our broader ‘Mumbai in Minutes’ vision, where seamless connectivity meets cutting-edge technology. This successful safety certification of the new rakes and CBTC signalling is not merely a technical upgrade; it is a testament to our resolve in transforming legacy infrastructure into a future-ready transit asset.”
With enhanced interiors, CCTV, fire detection systems and real-time monitoring now in place, the authority says services are expected to resume shortly, though public confidence remains under scrutiny.
Source: The Print
