In a relief to commuters, the proposed hike in Mumbai Metro fares will not be implemented till February 11 as the Bombay high court has adjourned hearing on the issue to allow parties to seek clarification from the Supreme Court.
The HC was to hear a petition filed by Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), challenging the proposed fare hike. On December 17, the HC passed an ad-interim order granting stay on the hike in Metro fares from Versova to Ghatkopar. Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MOPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Energy which runs the Metro, moved the SC challenging the HC’s order. The SC on January 27 refused to interfere with the HC order and sent the petition back to HC for hearing and deciding the matter on the same day.
The division bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice C.V. Bhadang said they would hear both parties and dispose of the matter on the same day as directed by the apex court. However, senior counsel Aspi Chinoy on behalf of MMRDA, and advocate Prasad Dhakephalkar on behalf of MMOPL, sought time to seek clarification from the SC whether final hearing is on the issue of interim relief or on the petition. The bench then allowed their request and adjourned the matter for further hearing on February 11.
Earlier, following the Fare Fixation Committee’s recommendations to increase fares of the first phase of Metro covering 12 stations, MMOPL announced it would increase Metro fares by Rs 5 from December 1 and proposed five slabs of Rs 10, 20, 25, 35 and 45 instead of the current four slabs of Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40. However, fares could not be increased as MMRDA challenged the hike in the HC, which stayed it till final hearing.
