Second phase of monorail won’t be ready till mid-2016

Slow pace of work, delays in the railways granting permission and problems getting land for construction have delayed the second phase of the monorail from Wadala to Jacob Circle by at least another six months.

Slow pace of work, delays in the railways granting permission and problems getting land for construction have delayed the second phase of the monorail from Wadala to Jacob Circle by at least another six months.

The 11.2km stretch that was to be opened in December this year, now has a mid-2016 deadline for completion.

“Because of various delays, the deadline for completion of the second phase has been extended to mid-2016,” said B Venugopal Reddy, additional commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

According to MMRDA officials, 85% of the civil work – construction of pillars, girders and stations, are complete. But signaling work, trials and safety certification still need to be done.

The construction of the two-storey stations at Acharya Atre Nagar, Lower Parel and Jacob Circle are still in the initial stages. Little space along the roads has left the MMRDA struggling to construct staircases and lifts at the stations.

“There are dilapidated buildings near the monorail stations at Naigaon and Dadar, which is slowing the construction work. We have to acquire land at several spots to build staircases and escalators,” said an MMRDA official, requesting anonymity.

The first phase, between Chembur and Wadala, started operations in February 2014.