MMOPL announces Rs 5 hike in Metro fare

Get ready to shell out more for your Metro travel, as the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) has announced an increase in the fare of Rs 5 on Friday.

Metro fare fixation has always been a controversial issue as the MMRDA has insisted on Rs 9-13 fare as per the concession agreement, while the operator MMOPL currently charges between Rs 10-40 as per the Central Metro Act.

A MMOPL release said, “A moderate Rs 5 per trip has increased the fare in the single journey token category. Instead of the earlier slabs of Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40, the new structure will have five slabs of Rs 10, 20, 25, 35 and 45. The fare slabs per trip for the return journey token category have been revamped from Rs 10, 15, 25 and 30 earlier to Rs 10, 20, 22.50, 30 and 35.”

A hike of Rs 1 per trip has been made in the fare on the 45-trip monthly pass, which is currently available in two slabs of Rs 675 and Rs 900 for short and long trips respectively. These passes will now be available for Rs 725 and Rs 950, which work out to an increase of just over Rs 1 per trip, the release said.

The number of fare slabs has also been increased from the previous four to five now, in order to align the fare structure with the recommendations of the FFC. The increase in the fare per trip for the commuters holding Store Value Passes is just Rs 2.

Instead of the four earlier fare slabs of Rs 10, 18, 27 and 32, the revamped structure has five slabs of Rs 10, 20, 22, 29 and 34 in this category. The fare fixation committee (FFC) had in July, recommended a fare structure of Rs 10 to Rs 110 after detailed scrutiny of all aspects.

The FFC had also advised MMOPL to approach the state government for suitable assistance. Earlier in July this year, MMOPL had issued a statement saying there would be no fare hike until October 31 but has been extended up to November. However, the new fare structure will be effective from December 1, 2015. However, MMOPL spokesperson said, “The new fare structure which will come into effect from December 1, 2015 is heavily discounted as against the FFC recommended fare of Rs 10 to Rs 110. MMOPL remains fully committed to providing world-class metro services to the city of Mumbai.

MMOPL will continue to remain engaged with all stakeholders to achieve the dual objective of affordable fare and business sustainability.”

Meanwhile, against the maximum fare of Rs 110 recommended by the fare FFC, the maximum fare for Mumbai Metroafter the revision is Rs 45, while the minimum fare remains the same as before at Rs 10.