“We had floated tenders to appoint consultants who can submit us the report on what can best suit the city,” said Mohan Dagavkar, city engineer, NMMC. “The mode of transport could be monorail, Metro or any other.”

The corporation has received bids from three companies — Sowil Ltd, SNC Lavlin and Rohit & Associates. “We have asked them to prepare a techno-economical study and survey the possible places where new modes of transport can be introduced. We are currently scrutinising the technical bids of the three bidders,” added Dagavkar.

The 38-year-old city does not have the infrastructure required to match its growing pace. Commuters largely depend on the rail network for commuting. The NMMC is already providing transport services through its transport arm, the NMMT but that is fast proving to be insufficient considering the number of people using NMMT services. City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the planning agency responsible for the development of the city, has plans to construct a Metro system in Navi Mumbai and are awaiting a Detailed Project Report (DPR) from its consultants — the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). But officials in the NMMC fear that the global meltdown might hit the project.