After Mumbai monorail fire, no takers to operate and maintain phase 2

The MMRDA is now going to float tenders for the third time after two failed attempts.

After a fire burnt down two coaches of a monorail, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has been struggling to find a contractor for the operation and maintenance of Phase-II (Wadala to Jacob Circle) of the corridor. The planning authority is now going to float tenders for the third time after two failed attempts.

Two rakes of a monorail were charred at the Mysore Colony station on November 9. (HT FILE)

When tenders were floated for the first time earlier this year, bidders had reverted with problems in tender conditions and that led to the conditions being relaxed. However, after tenders were floated the second time in October, the MMRDA received just a single bidder, which the authority found out in December on opening the bids. The response of companies might have been affected by the November 9 fire when two rakes of a monorail were charred at the Mysore colony station, after which its operation ha snot resumed.

A senior official from MMRDA said, "As per norms, we will have to float the tenders again since we just got a single response. We are expecting a good response as once the entire corridor is functional, the monorail will pick up pace in terms of ridership."

Officials said they are looking at streamlining standard operating procedures before initiating works. "The damages caused to the infrastructure at Mysore Colony station also have to be addressed before we begin operations," the official added.

Meanwhile, MMRDA is also looking at imposing a fine on the current contractor — Scomi — for delays in the operation of phase-2. MMRDA wants the to operationalise the corridor, which has already missed more than 15 deadlines. "The contractor can be fined up to Rs5 lakh for delays and lapses in running the second phase of the corridor," the official added.

MMRDA is also looking at floating tenders to appoint an agency that will specifically look at monorail's safety and evacuation measures.