Retired justice E Padmanabhan as chairman, FFC members are ex-chief secretary of Maharashtra Jayant Kumar Banthia and former law secretary Dr TK Vishwanathan.
Should Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Mumbai Metro fares be Rs110 or Rs40 or Rs26 or Rs13? That's one of the crucial questions, answer to which is set to impact Mumbaikars soon.
In September 2013, the state government had set the fare at Rs9-11-13. But Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) started levying Rs10-20-30-40, with Rs40 being the maximum fare to travel the entire 11.4 kilometres.
This led to a fare war between the state and MMOPL.
A Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) was formed and its report on this was submitted to MMOPL, which is the Metro rail administrator, on July 8. The three-member committee has recommended a maximum fare of Rs110, starting from a minimum Rs10.
Retired justice E Padmanabhan as chairman, FFC members are ex-chief secretary of Maharashtra Jayant Kumar Banthia and former law secretary Dr TK Vishwanathan.
According to sources, Banthia had a difference of opinion with the other committee members and put a "dissent note". A source shared that Banthia was of the view that if the project cost had almost doubled from Rs2,356 crore to Rs4,321 crore, the state government-approved fare should also be doubled to Rs18-22-26 rather than levying up to Rs40 or Rs110.
As per the Metro Railway Act, 2002, the recommendations of FFC are binding and will have to be levied by the Metro rail administrator. Therefore, there is a possibility of MMOPL charging commuters Rs110.
This hasn't gone down well with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has already objected to the fare of Rs40. MMRDA officials have said they will be objecting to the FFC recommendation soon in the Supreme Court.
Moreover, the MMOPL has still not shared the FFC report with its state government partner — MMRDA — despite it being submitted on July 8, which, MMRDA feels, is a highhanded approach by Rinfra.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}