Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) has had their way by increasing ticket rates of state's first metro rail between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar. Now the minimum fare is Rs10, whereas maximum is at Rs40.
This is the second fare hike of metro rail in the last 10 months and even before it is inaugurated for public use.
RInfra has a majority stake in the consortium titled Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) where the state government and Veolia is also a minor partner.
In September 2013, the chief minister had increased the ticket rates as per the clauses of the concession agreement signed between Rinfra and state authorities. The initial fares were increased (up to 3 km), Rs8 (3-8 km) and Rs10 (over 10 kms). The chief minister had increased it to Rs9 (up to 3 km), Rs11 (3-8 km) and Rs13 (over 8 km), as against Rinfra's demand of Rs22 (up to 3 km), Rs28 (3-8 km) and Rs33 (over 8 km).
However, the latest revision is Rs10 for first three stations (0-3 kms), Rs20 will be charged to commute between 4th to 6th station (3 to 6 km), Rs30 for another set of three metro stations (6 to 9km). Whereas if a person is travelling from end-to-end (Versova to Ghatkopar or 9 to 12 km) s/he will have to shell out Rs40.
Each of the stations are at a distance of a kilometer and in all there are 12 stations along the 11.04 km long corridor.
An official informed dna that a deadlock over increasing metro rail fares has been resolved and hiked. An official announcement on it will be done on Saturday.
RInfra has been demanding fare hike citing increase in project cost from Rs2,356 crore to Rs4,321 crore.
On May 9 dna had reported how RInfra by becoming the Metro Railway Administrator and having eight out of 11 directors on MMOPL's board will have decisions in its favour.
ateeq.shaikh@dnaindia.net
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