Is Metro and Monorail project viable for overcrowded Mumbai under private co. ?

When we talk about Mono Rail and Metro Rail project, there is a hype created. The viability and sustainability is under cloud. If you look at the situation of Mumbai Suburban trains, daily passengers finding it difficult to get into the train due to over crowding. There is very less investment for years together in adding more cracks, upgradation and connectivity of these suburban trains despite heavy traffic and greater revenue. If there is some progress in recent past, it is in a snail pace.

If you look at the carrying capacity of Metro and mono rails, it is much less compared to the EMU Trains. What will be the cost of ticket which still not clear. How the crowd in these handled due to less carrying capacity? Regular commuter can be used when the commuter is not sure about whether they can definitely catch the metro/ mono rail considering the over crowd? How much rack going to put in place? If there is more racks added, what will be the length of station and how this problem can be solved where there is less space available in the city. Whether this project is viable considering the investment and what is the expectation of annual return?

What is most worrying is the fact that these project undertaken by Anil Ambani’s Reliance group. In Mumbai more than 26 lakhs Reliance Energy consumer electric consumers facing trouble due to inflated and high electric tariff and excess billing etc. when the Reliance Energy have a monopolized services. Considering their philosophy and bitter experience from Reliance Group, it will not be a smooth affairs for their Monorail project. We need a guarded response before creating any hype regarding Metro because, they don’t bother about public sentiment. Their philosophy is just “karlo duniya mutti me” (conquer the world in the fist). After introduction of Metro rail, like Electricity, in future we are going to hear cumbersome tariff plan like Electricity in ticket also – fixed charges, reliability charges, fuel efficiency and the long list of tariff. At the end, you have to pay double the charges.

Railway should not be at the hands of private entities like Reliance. They are less known for their social obligation and their contribution to the society is lesser known compared to other groups of companies. Their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is almost zero. Multiple mode of transportation is inevitable and necessary considering the rapid growth of population in India. But when it goes in the hands of private companies, the whole scenario going to change.

Govt. of India, various passengers association and state government and other stake holders need to discuss the above project with all aspects and consumers interest should be protected.