"Mumbai Metro fare of Rs110 for 11.4 kms of commute between Versova and Ghatkopar is against the principle of encouraging Mass Rapid Transit Systems." This is what secretary, ministry of urban development (MoUD) has communicated to Maharashtra's chief secretary.
But the Supreme Court on Friday permitted Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) to charge Rs110 from commuters, after the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) had recommended the same. Commuters may now have to shell out Rs10 each on every station, of approximately one-kilometre distance.
"In the recommendations, the FFC has increased the maximum fare from Rs40/- to Rs110/-. Ministry is of the view that this is a very sharp increase in fares in a short period of 14 months (sic)", reads the communication between Secretary, MoUD and chief secretary. A copy of the letter is with dna.
The MoUD letter dated July 31 has suggested the state government to go for a review of FFC report by raising the issues of fares being charged globally.
"Moreover, telescopic fare, which is the norm followed in most of the metro companies, has not been recommended. This is against the principle of encouraging Mass Rapid Transit System for longer distances," says the letter.
Telescopic fares are tariff slabs that do not increase proportionately with distance and for longer journeys. The fare per unit distance is lower than for shorter distances, and keeps falling in slabs as the length of the journey increases. For example, if fare from station A to station B is Rs 10 the fare for travel to station C would be Rs14 instead of Mumbai Metro's decision of Rs20 to commute to the second station.
"Supreme Court has endorsed FFC's recommendation to levy Rs110 for Versova-Ghatkopar travel. The honourable court has allowed MMOPL to withdraw their weekly deposit of 50 percent of the difference of fares," said a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority official, the petitioner in the apex court.
Another senior MMRDA official said, "The Supreme Court's role is over. But the case is alive as the apex court has given four weeks' time frame for any further response. We will separately move High Court soon for challenging FFC report."
Reliance Infrastructure led MMOPL did not respond to dna's request for a response on court's observations.
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