The monorail service is likely to remain suspended till Monday said Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials on Friday.
Officials said that work was on to ensure quick resumption of services after a fire broke out at Mysore Colony station in Chembur, damaging two of the four coaches of a monorail rake, on Thursday morning.
There were no casualties as the fire broke out while the train was on its way to Chembur from Wadala to begin operations for the day.
Officials said that while the coaches have been gutted, tracks and rakes have not suffered damaged.
Dilip Kawathkar, MMRDA joint project director (public relations), said: “Work is on to clear the debris. By the end of the day [Friday], the damaged bogie will be shifted. Though the station and tracks have not been damaged in the fire, we will be conducting a complete inspection of the tracks and electrical units before resuming services.”
The MMRDA has appointed an independent committee to conduct an enquiry to find out the cause of the fire. The panel has also been asked to make recommendation to avert such incidents. P.S. Baghel, retired Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Circle, will be heading the committee. The Metropolitan Commissioner has also ordered a full inspection of all monorail trains.
The 8.9-km elevated monorail route has seven stations between Wadala and Chembur. An average of 17,000 commuters use the service daily. Mysore Colony station is the second stop on the route and is located close to the Hindustan Petroleum refinery.
Trial runs are on for the second phase of the project between Wadala and Jacob Circle. MMRDA officials said the fire would have no impact on the project scheduled to begin operations later this year.
