A fresh scare unfolded on Mumbai’s monorail corridor on Monday morning when a train abruptly halted between Antop Hill Bus Depot and GTBN station, forcing the evacuation of 17 passengers.
According to Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL), the incident occurred at 7.16 a.m. when a “technical snag” stopped the train on the elevated track. “Today, a technical snag occurred in one of the mono trains. As per safety protocols, all 17 passengers on board were swiftly and safely transferred to another train and taken to the next station by 7:40 a.m.,” a MMMOCL spokesperson said.
The affected rake was later towed away. Services between Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk and Wadala ran on a single line with delays, while Wadala to Chembur operations continued normally, the operator stated.
Emergency responders, including two fire engines and two turntables, were sent to the spot. However, the Fire Brigade said they were not pressed into service as the evacuation was completed through another rake brought alongside the stranded train.
Also read: Mumbai Monorail breaks down, passengers rescued, CM orders probe
This was the second disruption in less than a month. On 19 August, during torrential rains, as many as 582 passengers were trapped for several hours near Mysore Colony station before being rescued by the Fire Brigade. Another rake stranded 200 commuters at Acharya Atre Nagar station on the same day.
Those rescues stretched over hours, with teams battling heavy rain and difficult conditions to bring passengers to safety. The twin breakdowns had prompted the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to announce a set of immediate and long-term safety measures, including offloading passengers from overloaded rakes.
Since then, monorail services have occasionally been halted to de-board commuters from overcrowded coaches, officials noted.
Mumbai operates India’s only monorail system, a 19.74 km route linking Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in the island city to Chembur in the eastern suburbs. The first 8.26 km stretch was launched in February 2014, while the remaining 11.28 km was opened in March 2019.
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