Mumbai's Monday morning commute began on a rough note as a technical glitch on Metro Line 1 disrupted services during peak hours, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and causing long queues at stations.
Around 8:30 am, a Versova-bound train heading towards Ghatkopar was halted at Azad Nagar station after it failed to pick up speed. The train was subsequently emptied and sent to the depot for repairs, leading to the cancellation of one scheduled trip. The disruption caused a backlog of nearly 500 passengers at Ghatkopar station, with delays continuing for over 45 minutes as crowds swelled at the entry points.
Metro One operates 36 trips during peak hours, carrying around 65,000 passengers with an average frequency of 3 minutes and 20 seconds. Officials said that each cancelled trip during peak time reduces the system’s carrying capacity by approximately 1,750 passengers. To manage the shortfall, services are adjusted using hot-stand-by trains to compensate for lost trips.
As a long-term measure to address capacity and operational issues, Mumbai Metro One has submitted a proposal to its lenders — National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL), via India Debt Resolution Company Limited (IDRCL) — seeking approval for procurement of additional coaches.
Alongside plans for new coaches, the operator is working to optimize services by enhancing train speed, which would help improve headway and reduce congestion. The resumption of mixed-loop services short-loop trains running between Ghatkopar and Andheri during peak hours is also being considered to better manage passenger load.
