The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced that the city’s monorail services will be suspended from September 20, 2025, for a complete system upgrade. The authority has not shared a timeline for when services will resume. This will be the third full shutdown in eight years, excluding the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Why the Shutdown is Needed
MMRDA said the closure is essential to integrate new rakes, commission an advanced signalling system, and refurbish the ageing fleet. The downtime will also speed up the installation of the indigenously developed Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The new technology will help reduce train intervals and improve safety.
So far, officials have completed major groundwork, including the installation of five electronic interlockings, 260 Wi-Fi access points, 500 RFID tags, and 90 train detection systems. Integrated testing is already in progress.
New Rakes to Join the Fleet
The suspension will also allow the induction of 10 new ‘Make in India’ monorail rakes procured from Medha-SMH Rail. Eight of these have already been delivered. Older rakes will also undergo retrofitting during the shutdown.
MMRDA will use this period for uninterrupted commissioning work and staff training, which otherwise can only happen during a 3.5-hour night window.
Officials Defend the Move
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who also chairs MMRDA, defended the decision. He said, “The block is a vital step in strengthening Mumbai’s transport backbone. With new rakes, advanced CBTC signalling, and refurbishment, we will bring back the monorail in a stronger form.”
MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee also stressed the importance of the closure. He said the step is “a carefully thought-out step to rejuvenate the monorail” and urged citizens to remain patient.
A Troubled Journey So Far
The Mumbai monorail, launched with high hopes, has struggled since the start. It has faced frequent breakdowns, low ridership, and mounting losses. On September 15, a rake broke down near Wadala, leading to the emergency evacuation of 17 passengers. Similar breakdowns happened on August 19, 21, and 29.
In the past, services were suspended for nine months in 2017–18 after an empty train caught fire near Mysore Colony, Chembur.
Poor Ridership and Huge Losses
Despite high projections, the monorail has failed to attract daily commuters. When the Chembur-Wadala phase opened in February 2014, and the line extended to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in March 2019, officials expected 1 lakh passengers daily. However, the actual ridership is just 18,000 passengers a day.
Often criticised as a “white elephant,” the project is expected to report a net loss of ₹529 crore in 2023-24. In previous years, the losses ranged between ₹100 crore and ₹250 crore.
