Having made it to the inauguration of the Mumbai Metro despite his earlier threat to boycott the function over the fare hike issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister clarified on Sunday that if he had chosen to attend the function, it was because the Metro trains were being run as per the original fare structure quoted by Reliance Energy limited (REl) in its original tender.
Addressing a news conference after the inaugural journey on board the Mumbai Metro train, the Chief Minister said: “The Metro services have been started as per the original fare of Rs 9, 11 and 13. As far as the hike proposed by the Reliance is concerned, it will have to be approved by the Central fare fixation committee. In addition, we have moved the Bombay High Court against the proposed fare increase. Our petition will come up for hearing before the High Court on Monday.”
The Mumbai Metro One Pvt ltd (MMOPl), which operates the Mumbai Metro services, is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created with 69 per cent equity from REl, 5 per cent from Veolia Transport and 26 per cent from the State-run MMRDA.