Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro fares are envisaged to be 1.5 times of the BEST fares, which currently is Rs 6 for a minimum distance of 3 km. The Delhi Metro, however, considers AC bus fare as the benchmark for deciding its fares. Mumbai Metro is a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure, French firm Veolia Transport and MMRDA and with the parties respectively holding 69, 26 and 5 per cent. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) PS Baghel stated that the inspections are going on and the issuance of a final certificate may get delayed by a few days.
"We are still in the process of inspecting various parameters and we will then come out with our observations. We will then co-relate our inspection report with our observations and thereafter a final report will be prepared. A final certificate to the metro may then be issued by May 1 or it may also get delayed by a few days," added Baghel. Since April 17, Baghel has been rigorously inspecting various parameters of running the metro in the city. He first visited D N Nagar car shed in Mumbai and then took a review of the entire metro system, which includes rolling stocks, workshop, depot, corridor, stations, track, etc. CRS safety check is the last statutory certification requirement before the 11.4 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line is opened for public.
After being satisfied with results of detailed tests and trials, the CRS would authorise Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) to commence passenger operations on the line. However, social activist Anil Galgali said as per his information, the authorities want to start operations on the line only once the code of conduct gets over so that it makes a good impact for the people of Mumbai.
Galgali, in a letter to CRS, has demanded that the metro be opened for Mumbaikars without delay and that this may not be made a political issue. "We demand an immediate opening of the project once the final certificate is issued for the convenience of the citizens of Mumbai. The project should not be used to score political brownie points," highlighted Galgali. With opening of the line, the journey will be reduced to about 20 minutes on Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova corridor, which at present takes almost two hours through various other modes of transport.
