Mumbai: The first-ever metro in the city will put a bit of a hole in your pockets. Even before the 11-km elevated route starts its maiden journey, the fares are going to be hiked by 10%.
Officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the agency constructing the route, have justified the hike saying it will still remain much lower as compared to the general rate of inflation.
Metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Tuesday briefed the media about the progress of the 11-km long Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) route. While claiming that the route, which is being constructed by the consortium led by Reliance Infrastructure, will be completed by June 2011, he agreed that the first revision of fares (which as per the agreement between MMRDA and Reliance Infrastructure is to be done every three years) will be applicable before the metro starts running. "We have to understand that the Mumbai Metro will be the cheapest in the world. Even if the first fare revision is applicable, the minimum fare will still be around Rs11," he said.
"This is the first public-private partnership metro project in the world. We are proud to say that we will run the metro next year," said Gaikwad. He added that the DN Nagar car depot will be ready by December 2010 and all the 24 coaches of the first metro will be delivered by March 2011. However, officials agreed that the Andheri rail overbridge has some issues to be sorted out.
Officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the agency constructing the route, have justified the hike saying it will still remain much lower as compared to the general rate of inflation.
Metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Tuesday briefed the media about the progress of the 11-km long Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) route. While claiming that the route, which is being constructed by the consortium led by Reliance Infrastructure, will be completed by June 2011, he agreed that the first revision of fares (which as per the agreement between MMRDA and Reliance Infrastructure is to be done every three years) will be applicable before the metro starts running. "We have to understand that the Mumbai Metro will be the cheapest in the world. Even if the first fare revision is applicable, the minimum fare will still be around Rs11," he said.
"This is the first public-private partnership metro project in the world. We are proud to say that we will run the metro next year," said Gaikwad. He added that the DN Nagar car depot will be ready by December 2010 and all the 24 coaches of the first metro will be delivered by March 2011. However, officials agreed that the Andheri rail overbridge has some issues to be sorted out.
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