Net practice: Mumbai Monorail authorities install mesh below trains

After a tyre burst and another fell off, monorail authorities are getting nets attached below trains

After averting two major accidents, nearly two weeks ago, MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) is installing nets below monorail trains to ensure safety of passengers. Although the authorities are unwilling to reveal the dates of the mishaps, two weeks ago, a tyre burst on the Wadala-Chembur monorail corridor. And in another incident, tyres were reported to have fallen off. Fortunately, no person was hurt in both the incidents. Metropolitan commissioner UPS Madan confirmed saying, “Yes, it’s true a the tyre burst accident took place recently. In order to prevent further accidents, we will be installing nets below the monorail, so nothing falls on the ground.”

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MMRDA is installing safety nets below trains to avert incidents of tyres or other parts falling on roads. ILLUSTRATION/Uday Mohite

Sources from MMRDA said the monorail company has also been facing a lot of problems procuring tyres and wipers for the trains. “Yes, there was an issue related to the tyres, but tyres have been procured from the market. The wiper issue is trivial and will be addressed immediately,” added a senior official.

At present, three monorail trains — number 6, 8 and 9 — take 131 trips between Wadala and Chembur. Around 3 weeks ago, one of the trains had developed a technical snag and, accordingly, number of trips was reduced.

Cops as witness
Senior Police Inspector Dilip Raut from RCF Police station said, “Over two weeks ago, one of the train’s tyres suddenly fell on the road — the train had to be halted. Fortunately no one was injured, but we immediately alerted the monorail authorities. Soon after, another train came and towed the faulty train to Chembur”

The issue of faulty Constant Velocity (CV) Joints have been plaguing the authorities for a long time. CV Joints are had to procure as the same spares can only be brought from abroad. In order to resolve this issue, initially, the authorities removed the spares from the benched trains and fit it on the operational ones.

But lately, these CV Joints are being purchased from local markets.

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