19.11.08

India's first Monorail snippets


India’s first 20-km monorail between Jacob Circle and Chembur station via Wadala is expected to take the load of nearly three lakh commuters who are currently taking buses, trains, taxis, autorickshaws and private vehicles along the same corridor.It promises to reduce 80,000 bus trips (one way), 28,000 taxi and auto trips on a daily basis. About 25,000 cars are expected to go off the city’s congested roads. Over 22 lakh people living within 2 km on either side of the track will be benefited by the facility. The state government forwarded the details of the proposed monorail system to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who will inaugurate the ambitious project in Chembur on November 29. First section of the project between Jacob Circle and Wadala will be 12 km long. Passengers will be able to cover the distance in 25 minutes. This route will have 11 stations. Second section between Wadala and Chembur will be 8.2 km. Passengers will be able to cover the distance in 19 minutes. The route will have 7 stations. In all, the distance of 20.2 km from Jacob Circle to Chembur will be covered in 44 minutes. The monorail train will run at a speed of 32 km per hour and will be completely air-conditioned to attract commuters who travel in luxurious vehicles . There will be a total of 18 stations, each at a height of 11 metres. Stations will have elevators for the elderly. The 2 tracks will run 9-11 metres from above the ground on a single pillar n Initially, 15 trains will be commissioned on the two-way track to be erected on a single pillar . Initially, a train will be available every 4.5 minutes. The waiting period will subsequently be reduced to 3 minutes. Capacity per carriage is 150 persons (30% seating and 70% standing with occupancy as 6 persons per sq mt). Size of the coach will be 8.6m x 2.8m . Each train with 4 coaches will have a capacity to accommodate 600 passengers. Capacity of the train when the number of coaches are increased from 4 to 6 will be 800 passengers. Each monorail train will have the capacity to carry a passenger load of eight to 10 buses on the roads along the same corridor. Peak hour peak direction (PHPD) traffic on the monorail can be enhanced from 9,000 PHPD to 16,000 PHPD by adding two coaches to each train . The length between two pillars will be 3.7 metres and the tracks will be two-and-a-half feet wide n Skywalks connecting stations with roads will be constructed to ease passenger movement. Will need only one depot that will be located in Wadala .

No comments: