The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced the suspension of all monorail services from September 20, 2025. The shutdown will cover the full 19.74-km corridor from Chembur to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk and remain in force until further notice. According to the MMRDA, the shutdown is essential to integrate new rolling stock, install advanced signalling and refurbish existing rakes. Officials said round-the-clock access to the tracks was required as the current 3.5-hour night block is insufficient for the scale of work planned.
New trains and signalling
The modernisation drive centres on the introduction of ten new rakes being procured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative from Medha Servo Drives and SMH Rail. Eight have already been delivered, the ninth is undergoing inspection and the tenth is in final assembly. The network will also transition to an indigenously developed Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, the first such deployment for the Mumbai monorail. In addition, existing rakes will be refurbished and operating staff will undergo advanced training.
Safety lapses trigger closure
The decision follows a series of breakdowns in recent months. On September 15, a train stalled between Antop Hill Bus Depot and GTBN station in Wadala, stranding 17 passengers. Earlier on August 19, heavy rains led to two separate failures that left more than 780 commuters stuck for hours at Mysore Colony and Acharya Atre Nagar stations. Emergency evacuations were carried out by the Mumbai Fire Brigade but the incidents fuelled concerns over passenger safety. The MMRDA later began de-boarding commuters from overcrowded trains as a precautionary measure.
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Inquiry panel set up
A high-level committee has been constituted to review equipment, maintenance and operations. “We are committed to restoring public confidence in the monorail system. This suspension is a carefully thought-out step to make the service safer and more reliable,” said MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee. Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA chairman Eknath Shinde urged commuters to cooperate, stressing that the upgrades are critical for the network’s long-term sustainability.
No reopening date yet
The authority has not committed to a timeline for resumption but work is expected to continue round-the-clock until all systems are installed and cleared by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. This is the second time the corridor has faced a complete halt. In November 2017, a fire on an empty rake near Mysore Colony forced services to remain suspended for nearly nine months.
India’s only monorail
Launched in February 2014, the Mumbai Monorail remains the country’s only operational monorail system. The first 8.26-km stretch from Chembur to Wadala opened that year, followed by an 11.28-km extension to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in March 2019. Although it was projected to carry 1 lakh passengers daily, ridership averages only around 18,000. Financially, the project posted losses of over Rs 529 crore in FY24, adding to long-standing questions over its viability.
