The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has dragged Reliance Infrastructure to court on the Mumbai Metro fare issue. The MMRDA has said the fare should have been fixed at between Rs. 9 and Rs. 13 as per a contract signed with Reliance.
The company has, however, decided to hike the fare to Rs.10-Rs.40. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Sunday that the government would contest the fare in the court.
An arbitration petition has been filed against Veolia Transport SA, Mumbai Metro One Private Limited and Reliance Infrastructure.
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“The MMRDA has filed arbitration petition before the High Court and made an urgent application before Justice R.D. Dhanuka for urgent relief in the matter of fixation of Metro fares,” a statement said.
After the matter was mentioned on Monday, the court listed it for June 13.
The MMRDA has sought the appointment of an arbitrator to settle the fare dispute.
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The MMRDA claimed that Metro fares were fixed at Rs.9 (up to 3 km), Rs.11 (from 3 to 8 km) and Rs.13 (for more than 8 km) and were accepted by the Consortium — as was specifically mentioned in the Concession Agreement. However, the Consortium had increased the fare to Rs.10, Rs. 20, Rs. 30 and Rs. 40 for different travel distances, the press note said.