November 10, 2008: A consortium led by Larsen & Toubro with Scomi Engineering Bhd, Malaysia has bagged a Rs. 24.6 Billion (Rs. 2460 Crore) order from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to implement the country’s first Monorail System in Mumbai.

Larsen & Toubro is India’s leading Technology, Engineering & Construction Company and is a premier builder of infrastructure projects in India with track record of successful implementation of several large turn key projects. Scomi Engineering is one of the world’s top three monorail manufacturers, and offers urban transportation solutions by providing the latest monorail electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock.

The project involves Designing, Constructing, Installation, Testing & Commissioning and Integrated Testing including Train Trail with initial Operation & Maintenance from Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Jacob Circle) to Wadala (approx. 11 kms) and Wadala to Chembur via Mahul (approx 9 km) corridor on a Lump Sum Turnkey (LSTK) basis. The Monorail will have 18 stations enroute. The project is to be completed in a tight schedule of 30 months.

The Straddle type Monorail System complies with the highest international standards of safety and reliability. It is a modern urban transport system where the cars move on a single beam in an elevated corridor. The design makes it possible to execute the project on a fast-track as it requires a small foot- print and facilitates implementation with minimal demolition of structures. Other advantages include greater reliability, high manoeuverability, lower cost and an eco-friendly design. These factors make Monorails an attractive option for Mumbai where land is a scarce resource. The Monorail also helps in negotiating sharp curves and can handle gradients up to 6%. The Monorail is a quiet system with sleek exteriors, and air-conditioned cars, adding to commuter comfort.

This will be the first Monorail System in India and is expected to ease the congestion in the highly crowded Jacob Circle, Wadala and Chembur area. The monorail will provide interconnectivity to the existing sub urban railway (Mahalaxmi and Lower Parel Station of Western Railway, Curry Road, Dadar & Wadala Station of Central Railway, etc) and forthcoming Metro Rail as a part of multimodal transport system and on being commissioned will be a boon to the citizens of Mumbai.