Technical Glitch Stops Mumbai Monorail, Commuters Evacuated Safely

Mumbai’s monorail system faced a dramatic disruption on Monday morning, September 15, 2025, when a train ground to a halt between Antop Hill Bus Depot and GTBN station in Wadala due to a technical fault, leaving 17 passengers stranded. The incident, reported at 7:16 am, triggered a swift response from authorities, who safely evacuated all passengers after a tense 45-minute ordeal, transferring them to another monorail train.

According to civic officials, the glitch caused the train to stop abruptly on the elevated tracks, raising immediate concerns for passenger safety. Mumbai police and monorail staff coordinated the rescue operation, ensuring no injuries occurred. “All passengers are safe and were shifted to another train,” a civic official confirmed, though details of the technical issue remain undisclosed. The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL), which oversees monorail operations, was unavailable for comment, leaving commuters and observers seeking clarity on the cause.

This incident marks the latest setback for Mumbai’s monorail, which has struggled with reliability issues. Just last month, heavy rains led to two separate incidents where monorail trains were stranded, necessitating the rescue of hundreds of passengers. Those events exposed vulnerabilities in the system’s infrastructure, particularly during extreme weather, and Monday’s breakdown has reignited concerns about its dependability as a key public transport option.

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The monorail, intended to ease Mumbai’s notorious traffic congestion, connects Chembur to Wadala over a 20-km stretch, serving as a vital link for commuters in the eastern suburbs. However, recurring technical glitches and operational challenges have drawn criticism, with commuters expressing frustration over frequent disruptions. Monday’s incident caused delays across the network, impacting morning rush-hour travel and prompting calls for urgent upgrades to the aging system.

Local residents and daily commuters voiced their exasperation on social media, with many questioning the maintenance protocols of the MMMOCL. “This is becoming a regular problem. How can we rely on the monorail if it keeps breaking down?” one user posted on X. Authorities have yet to announce whether services were fully restored or if further delays are expected, leaving commuters wary of using the system.

As Mumbai grapples with its ever-growing transport demands, the monorail’s repeated failures highlight the need for robust infrastructure and proactive maintenance. The incident, while resolved without harm, underscores the challenges of modernizing urban mobility in one of India’s busiest cities, pushing authorities to address systemic issues to restore public confidence.

Also Read: Mumbai Rains: Trapped Passengers Pulled From Stalled Monorail