Centre allows Reliance Infrastructure-promoted Mumbai Metro to decide its own fare structure. RInfra can now fix fares at higher rate than the one notified by the state government
Mumbai metro
In a set-back to the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra, the Centre has allowed Reliance Infrastructure-promoted Mumbai Metro to decide its own fare structure. This will allow RInfra to fix the fares at higher rate than the one notified by the state government.
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The company today expressed hope that it will be able to operationalise the much-delayed Metro in May with the development.
Fare was one of the issues that had delayed the commencement of Metro services.
"The Union Urban Department ministry has brought the Mumbai MetroOne under the Central Metro Act, which allows us to fix the fare structure. Therefore, the fares notified by the state earlier are no longer applicable," Mumbai MetroOne chief executive Abhay Mishra told PTI today.
As per the state government's notification, the minimum fare was to be Rs 9 and maximum Rs 13 in the first year. Later, after every four years, the fares were to increase by 11 per cent and at the end of the 35-year concession period (2044-45) the minimum fare was to be Rs 24 and maximum Rs 37.
RInfra has been seeking a steep revision at minimum fare of Rs 22 and maximum fare of Rs 33, citing a near-doubling of the cost, to which the state was opposed.
The Centre, through a notification on February 7, had informed the state government that the Mumbai Metro will be governed by the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act of 1978, which makes the RInfra the administrator of the project which also can fix the fares afresh after obtaining a go ahead from the fare fixation committee (FFC).
Under the initial agreement between the state and RInfra, the state had the power to fix the fares.
The Central notification further clarified that for the initial fare fixation, no FFC recommendation is necessary. "However, for subsequent fare revisions, an FFC is a must," it said.
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