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Bombay High Court strikes down plea to hike Metro fare

The court asked the Union government to form a fresh committee within one month, which would decide on the issue in the next three months.

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The Bombay High Court, in a major relief to Mumbaikars, on Monday restrained the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) from hiking the fares for the Versova-Ghatkopar Metro route.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur refused to approve a 2015 recommendation of the Metro Fare Fixation Committee, which proposed a hike of up to Rs 110. The Mumbai Metro Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), which has stakes in the project, had challenged the proposed hike. The court asked the Union government to form a fresh committee within one month, which would decide on the issue in the next three months.

A spokesperson from the company said "We are studying the detailed order and will take the appropriate legal course."

The first elevated metro operations of the city began in June 2014 and the introductory fare was Rs 10 for a one-way journey along the 11.4-km stretch. It was subsequently increased to Rs 40, the entire distance one side. In July 2015, the fare fixation committee suggested a new fare range of Rs 10-110, instead of the existing Rs10 to 40. Citing heavy losses, the MMOPL had later announced that starting December 1, 2015, the fares would be increased by Rs 5.

The MMOPL had argued for the increase, claiming that it was not able to meet the operation costs. On December 17, 2015, in an interim order, the HC had stayed the proposed fare hike.

The MMOPL had moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order, but the apex court refused to interfere. The fare fixation committee led by a retired SC judge, had recommended increasing the fare up to Rs110.

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