By Tasneem Bandukwala
Monday morning saw yet another disruption on the city’s monorail service when a technical glitch caused a train bound for Wadala to come to an abrupt halt mid-journey, with 17 passengers trapped on board before being safely evacuated.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:45 am between Antop Hill Bus Depot and GTBN monorail station in Wadala. Officials say the halt was caused by a “technical fault” more specifically described by local sources as a supply issue.
Commuters were transferred about 45 minutes later to another train coming from Chembur, with assistance from the firebrigade.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed that full services on both monorail lines have since been restored. “Services have now been fully normalised on both lines of Monorail. We regret the inconvenience and thank our passengers for their cooperation,” said an MMRDA spokesperson.
This breakdown comes weeks after a major breakdown in August, during which 582 passengers were stranded when another monorail train broke down amidst heavy rainfall. That earlier incident, lasting for almost four hours, raised serious concerns about the reliability of one of Mumbai’s key transit alternatives.
Ward 175 Councillor Rajesh Anana Bhojane, present at the scene, appealed to the authorities to address recurring technical issues. “The train heading to Wadala halted. … I urge the government to resolve this recurring issue,” he said.
Operational since 2014 between Chembur and Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk, the monorail, designed to carry commuters quickly and affordably at fares between 10-14 rupees, continues to face challenges. As Mumbai also faces intense rain predictions, concerns are growing over whether the monsoon could exacerbate disruptions.