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The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has formed a committee to address overcrowding on Metro 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line). This action follows a recent technical failure that caused excessive crowding. The committee, led by former chief secretary Johny Joseph, will review service disruptions and evaluate solutions. The Metro 1 operator, MMOPL, plans to deploy standby rakes, upgrade four-coach trains to six, and reconsider mixed-loop services to improve commuter experience. Metro 1, operational since July 2014, currently carries 500,000 daily passengers.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has recently established a committee to look into crowding issues on a metro line. This decision, made on Tuesday following a technical problem on one of the trains, impacts the Metro 1 line in Mumbai. The committee aims to improve passenger comfort and operational reliability by forming a "high-level committee" for review and engagement. Advertisement
The technical failure on a Metro 1 train recently led to excess crowding, particularly at Ghatkopar and Andheri metro stations. The Metro 1 line is 11 years old and is operated by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), a special purpose vehicle where MMRDA holds a 26% stake, with the remaining 74% held by Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure.
According to multiple sources MMRA is banding together a high-level committee which will be led by former Chief Secretary Johny Joseph. The committee will review the service disruptions at Ghatkopar station and evaluate proposed solutions. As part of long-term measures, MMOPL is working on upgrading its existing four-coach trains to six coaches.
MMOPL is also considering restarting mixed-loop services, which are alternate short-loop services during peak hours between Ghatkopar and Andheri. Mixed-loop operations had begun in April but were withdrawn on June 16 after authorities observed a drop in footfall at the Versova, DN Nagar, and Azad Nagar metro stations.
Metro 1, Mumbai's first metro line, opened to the public in July 2014. It currently operates with 16 rakes of four cars each, ferrying an average of 500,000 daily passengers on the 11-kilometer corridor connecting the eastern and western suburbs.
During peak hours, it operates 36 trips with a service frequency of 3 minutes and 20 seconds and a carrying capacity of around 65,000 passengers. Each trip ferries 1,800 passengers during peak hours and approximately 1,500 during off-peak hours. Commuters have been consistently demanding an increase in the number of coaches per rake from four to six due to overcrowding, but this has not materialized so far.
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