Mumbai’s long-stalled monorail project is moving toward revival, with Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) awarding the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract to Power Mech Projects Ltd. The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the contract was formally issued on April 8, 2026, marking a key milestone in efforts to restore services on the corridor.
The development comes as the city’s 19.54-kilometre monorail stretch, linking Chembur in the eastern suburbs to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Jacob Circle), nears a much-anticipated restart after remaining shut for several months. The system had been out of operation since September 20, 2025, when repeated technical glitches disrupted services. Multiple mid-route breakdowns, including three sudden incidents, prompted authorities to suspend operations entirely.
Following the shutdown, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority initiated a comprehensive upgrade programme aimed at addressing systemic issues. This included the introduction of new rolling stock, the installation of a modern Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, and extensive refurbishment of the existing fleet.
In February 2026, the revival effort received a significant boost when independent safety certification was granted by Bureau Veritas. The certification covered both the newly inducted monorail coaches and the upgraded signalling infrastructure, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.
As part of the restart plan, Medha Servo Drives, the supplier of 10 newly manufactured monorail rakes, has been directed to align its testing timelines with the proposed relaunch schedule. Trials are currently underway across multiple systems, including rolling stock performance, signalling, telecommunications, automatic fare collection, and passenger information systems.
With these steps in motion, the monorail’s return appears imminent, raising hopes for improved last-mile connectivity in Mumbai’s eastern corridor.
Source: Metro Rail News
