Mumbai Metro fare set between Rs 10-40

MUMBAI: After launching the Mumbai Metro's first phase with a promotional fare of Rs 10 for its first month of operation, the project's developer and operator Reliance Infrastructure officially announced on Monday that the fare has been set between Rs 10 and Rs 40.
The fare is substantially higher than the Rs 9,Rs 11 and Rs 13 agreed upon by the developer in the concession agreements.Reliance Infrastructure's announcement comes after Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Sunday that the fare structure will be decided through arbitration.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said on Monday that it has filed arbitration petition before the Bombay High Court and made an application before Justice RD Dhanuka for urgent relief in the matter of fixation of Metro fares.
The court will hear the case on June 13. Reliance Infrastructure said that its decision to increase tariff is in line with the provisions of Central Metro Act 2002. "As per a central government directive, the Mumbai Metro One Pvt is the Metro Railway Administration and the fare for the Mumbai Metro is to be fixed afresh by MMOPL for the initial opening of the line," the company said in a statement.
Mumbai's first metro rail, connecting the western suburbs Versova-Andheri and the eastern suburbs of Ghatkopar, started commercial operations on Sunday. The metro line saw 2.4 lakh people travelling on the first day and is expected to carry 7 lakh commuters every day in its first year of operation,Reliance Infrastructure said.