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New Monorail In India Revolutionizes Transport
India’s first monorail in Mumbai is a growing sign of India’s step into modernity.
Last week, after years of construction starting in 2008, Mumbai opened its first phase of monorail to the public. The monorail is a first for India and has been seen as a high tech solution to the city’s notorious reputation for ongoing traffic congestion by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Approximately 30 million rupees or $479 million dollars were dedicated to the project.
Mumbai's monorail operates on a nine-kilometre, seven-station path, running from the eastern suburbs of Wadala and Chembur. Once the second phase of construction is completed in another year, it is projected that the monorail will be the world’s second-largest, first being Japan’s Osaka monorail, and will carry at least 125,000 commuters daily. The completed monorail will feature 11 more stations and be 20 kilometres long, connecting Jacob Circle in southern Mumbai to Chembur in eastern Mumbai.
The monorail because of its affordable price, 5 – 8 rupees per fare, allows people who were earlier unable to afford expensive forms of travel a chance to partake in India’s foray into modernity.
That includes residents such as Rekha Patel, for example, who washes clothes and dishes in the Central Mumbai neighborhood. In an interview with The New York Times she said, “We don’t have money to go outside of India to see all this. Nine rupees is a good price for such an experience.”
Another passenger, Pradeep Kulkarni who works as a senior manager with state bank, excitedly reported to The New York Times, “I am going to send a photograph to my son who lives in New York. I will show him that now India is not far behind.” In anticipation of taking the joyride, Mr. Kulkarni and his wife woke up at 5 a.m. and traveled for two hours to experience this modern marvel.
While the project is still in development, ticket sales for the first installment have already surpassed 100,000.
The Mumbai Monorail has quickly become a symbol of modernity for India, joining the likes of Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit, the London Underground, and the New York City Subway.
Featured Image: Nytimes.com
Image: Mid-day.com
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