There are two reasons behind the MMRDA scrapping its idea of having separate section or coach for first class in the upcoming Metro corridors.
Mumbaikars wanting to travel in the upcoming Metro corridors may not get a separate first class coach in those that are under construction, as planned earlier. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has said that it may junk its plan to have a separate first class coach or partition in the upcoming Metro trains.
There are two reasons behind the MMRDA scrapping its idea of having separate section or coach for first class in the upcoming Metro corridors. Firstly, it will decrease the carrying capacity of Metro trains which will have around six coaches. Secondly, the civic body also feels that due to having a separate first class category they might face technical issues relating to integrating different fare categories with the proposed single ticketing system that is planned for several modes of transport of Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The MMRDA is currently carrying out a bid to have a single smart card that can be used by commuters for travelling in suburban railway, buses, Metro, Monorail, paying toll and also auto and taxi in the later stage. The particular smart card can also be used as debit card for making payments.
An MMRDA official said, "It will decrease the carrying capacity and will also pose challenges regarding integrating with single ticketing smart card system. The Railways will ultimately have to integrate their AC local, first class and second class fare category for the single smart card system but we will prefer to have minimum challenges."
DNA had earlier reported in May 2018 about MMRDA planning to have one coach reserved for first class out of the total six coaches, where commuters can pre-book their seats. The MMRDA opined that it will help them in getting those using private vehicles use public mode of transport. The six-coach Metro train would also be having one coach reserved for women commuters. The Metro trains are also going to expand from six coaches to eight coaches in the near future.
Currently, construction work of five Metro corridors is going on in the city, out of which, two Metro corridors namely Dahisar-DN Nagar Metro-2A corridor and Dahisar East-Andheri East Metro-7 corridor are expected to be made operational for general public from 2020.
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 "Mumbai Metro")
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