BJP targets MMRDA for hike in Metro fares

While the Congress and NCP launched a strategic attack on the Narendra Modi government for the hike in railway fares, the BJP in Mumbai in turn attack the MMRDA on Wednesday for allowing Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra to increase the metro rail fares.

Ashish Shelar, president of the Mumbai BJP, led the protest against the MMRDA at the Bandra Kurla Complex office and claimed that the state government was favouring Reliance Infra. "Even the cost of the project has gone up high by 82 per cent. The actual cost of the project was Rs 2,700 crore, which went up to Rs 4,300 crore.

"We demand an inquiry into the increased project cost. Even as the state government is claiming ignorance over the issue, the prospect of a price hike was given to the company on a platter. When the Congress was at the Centre, it amended the Delhi Metro Act and Metro Rail Act 2002. The entire Act was changed and the new Metro Railway Amendment Act was formed. The state government, at this point of time, facilitated Reliance Infra and helped them increase the project cost," alleged Shelar.

He demanded that third party audit of the entire project. "Why is the audit not done through the Comptroller Auditor General?" he asked.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had staged a protest against the central government for imposing a hike in railway fares. Sanjay Nirupam had staged a rail roko at Malad station.