Mumbai Monorail running at high public safety risk, says ex-Operator

Anushka Khare Posted on: 2019-04-07 09:15:24 Viewer: 707 Comments: 0 Country: India City: Mumbai

Mumbai Monorail running at high public safety risk, says ex-Operator

Mumbai (Urban Transport News): The consortium of Mumbai Monorail operators, namely L&T and Scomi Engineering (LTSE) has written a letter to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to aware about high public safety risk in operation of Monorail due to lack of expertise in MMRDA officials. In the letter, LTSE has alleged that the MMRDA does not have the expertise over monorail technology.

The consortium alleged that by terminating their contract and taking over commercial operations of Mumbai Monorail, MMRDA has put the safety of the public and the overall system is running at high risk. "Considering MMRDA's lack of expertise in operating and maintaining Monorail technology and its refusal to partake in a smooth takeover, it is inconceivable as to how the termination of the contract is in the larger public interest.

We reiterate that by the action of this premature and abrupt termination of the contract, the complete Monorail system, and its operations and maintenance have been put at risk", stated in the letter written to MMRDA by the LTSE. However, DLN Murthy, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Mumbai Monorail at MMRDA is not aware on such communication and he said to DNA, "They must have drafted, I don't remember seeing such letter." It is pertinent to mention here that the MMRDA on December 14, 2018, had terminated the contract of operation and maintenance of Mumbai Monorail from operator LTSE citing non-performance.

However, LTSE had made a communication to MMRDA claimed that MMRDA's decision may derail the commercial operations of the second phase between Wadala and Mahalaxmi since the authority does not have technical expertise. While terminating the contract from LTSE, MMRDA had cited a host of issues, including 'persistently disregarding instructions', failure to start the second phase and failure to supply the balance five rakes. At present, there are 10 rakes in India and out of which only 4 rakes are functional. MMRDA has commenced commercial operation of the second phase of monorail on March 4, 2019 while the first phase between Chembur and Wadala was operational since February 2014.

The consortium has also alleged MMRDA for poor financial condition. "It is also a matter of record that repeated breaches of the contract by the employer (MMRDA), including refusal to nominate arbitral panel for adjudication of disputes on multiple occasions, have constrained contractor to take legal proceedings", stated in the letter. 

The consortium has claimed that the amount of around Rs 1,800 crores is under dispute that has been denied by MMRDA has actually impacted the financial capability of the consortium (operator) to infuse funds on its own to make the system functional. Lack of expertise resulting in frequent breakdown and technical glitches in operation of Mumbai Monorail.





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