Mumbai metro rail fares to increase from Tuesday

Fare slabs increased to 5 from present 4 in various categories

Fares on this city's metro rail network will rise from Tuesday. Due to lack of response from the Maharashtra government on a relief package, Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), an arm of Reliance Infrastructure which operates the 11.4-km Versova to Ghatkopar stretch, will raise fare slabs up to Rs 5.

The current fare slabs are Rs 10, 20, 30, 40. The new structure will have five slabs, of Rs 10, 20, 25, 35 and 45. There will be a Rs 1 rise in the daily charge on the 45-trip monthly pass, currently available at     675 for short and Rs 900 for long trips.

The increase in the fare per trip for commuters holding store value passes is Rs 2. Instead of  the the fare slabs of Rs 10, 18, 27 and 32, the revamped structure has five slabs of Rs 10, 20, 22, 29 and 34 in this category.

An MMOPL spokesperson said: ''(We) continue to suffer losses of about Rs 300 crore a year. The company chose to defer any fare revision till November 30, after the Fare Fixation Committee recommended a structure of Rs 10 to Rs 110 in July.

The company engaged with the state government with an intent to finding a viable solution and to avoid giving any shock to its valued commuters.  While MMOPL continues to pursue the matter, the fare revision is very moderate and much below the FFC's recommendations.''

As reported earlier, MMOPL in July had appealed to the state government to provide a one-time grant of Rs 1,000 crore, pay it a monthly subsidy of Rs 21.75 crore and allow real estate development along Metro rail stations.

The government did not respond. Instead, state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis recently announced the government would ensure an audit by the Union comptroller and auditor general of the operations.