Mumbai metro rail fare hike deferred till Dec 17

MMOPL official says proposed increase postponed till the day fare hike issue comes up for hearing in Bombay HC

Reliance Infrastructure arm Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) has deferred fare hike till December 17 for the 11. 4 km Versova Andheri Ghatkopar corridor. The company last week had announced fare rise up to Rs 5 from December 1 onwards as it failed to get any relief from the Maharashtra government.

The fare in the single journey token category was proposed to be increased by a moderate Rs 5 per trip. Instead of the earlier slabs of Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40, the new structure will have five slabs comprising Rs 10, 20, 25, 35 and 45.

Further, the company had  proposed a  Re 1 hike in the fare charged on the 45 trip monthly pass which is currently available in the two slabs of Rs 675 for short and Rs 900 long trips. These monthly passes will now be available at Rs 725 for short and Rs 950 for long trips.

MMOPL spokesman said, "Since the Bombay High Court has scheduled the hearing on priority basis on December 17, 2015, we have deferred the fare revision till then.''

The high court gave its direction during hearing on a petition filed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) few months ago against MMOPL for fare slab of Rs 10, 20, 30, 40. MMRDA insisted on fare structure of Rs 9-13 as per the concession agreement.

However, MMOPL being designated as the ‘Metro Rail Administrator’ submitted that fare slab was fixed as per the Metro Act, under which the project was brought midway. MMRDA official said the fare revision proposed by MMOPL will be opposed during the hearing slated for December 17.

In the meanwhile, the Fare Fixation Committee submitted its report in July recommending fare slab of Rs 10 to Rs 110. MMOPL however, continued with the fare slab of Rs 10, 20, 30, 40 earlier till October 31 which was later extended up to November 30.

MMOPL on July 29 in its letter to the state government appealed for one time grant of Rs 1,000 crore, monthly subsidy of Rs 21.75 crore and the commercial exploitation of real estate along railway stations.