With the Chennai Metro Rail set to roll out by the end of the year, the fares may be between Rs. 10 and Rs. 30, say sources.
The figure was arrived at following recommendations from a consultant firm which conducted a study for Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) sometime ago. The study looked at various factors, including the local demand, possible ridership and travel pattern of residents. The fare for the first class section is not known as yet.
Earlier, CMRL officials said the fares could range between Rs. 8 and Rs. 23 for a distance of 2 km-27 km and above, but could be hiked by the time Metro Rail becomes operational.
Since the fares may play a vital role in determining the ridership as well as financial returns, it had to be affordable but competitive with other modes of transports, including buses, an official of CMRL said. At present, the fares for ordinary MTC services range between Rs. 3 and Rs. 15.
Also, the fares for the Metro Rail services in Delhi and Bangalore too were looked at and considered, he added.
The fares for the services in Chennai may be increased a few years after the Metro Rail becomes functional, say sources. The fares for Delhi Metro Rail now range between Rs. 8 and Rs. 30. Though the fares had to go up it had not been done since the last hike in 2009 and this had affected the operating profits of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), a source said.
Closer to the date of operationalisation of the first phase of Metro Rail from Koyambedu to Alandur, the fares will be fed into the Automatic Fare Collection system which will be installed in all stations.
