Mumbai Monorail restart awaits IIT Bombay plan to cover guideway gaps

Mumbai Monorail’s return to service depends on MMRDA reviewing a technical proposal from IIT Bombay on covering gaps between its parallel elevated guideways.

MMRDA is examining the measure as part of its passenger-rescue arrangements. Stations along the corridor are roughly a kilometre apart, and officials said reaching a stranded rake by road can take 10 minutes or more, depending on traffic. The gaps are also a concern on curved sections, where an object falling through could endanger people and vehicles on the road below.

The authority will review IIT Bombay’s recommendation and decide when operations can resume. The Monorail has been closed since September 20, 2025, for a modernisation programme that includes new rolling stock, an upgrade to the CBTC signalling system and refurbishment of the existing fleet.

Before the shutdown, the service carried about 16,000 weekday passengers and around 10,000 passengers on weekends. MMRDA expects connections with the expanding Metro network, including at VN Purav Chowk, to improve ridership after services restart.