Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro: MMRDA moves HC against tariff suggested by FFC

The MMRDA has been in dispute with the Reliance Infrastructure-led MMOPL over the Metro fare even before the Metro rail started operating in June 2014. Additional Metropolitan Commissioner at the MMRDA Sanjay Sethi said, “We have formally filed the writ petition on Monday. The FFC members, Centre, MMOPL and the state government will be the respondents in this case.”

The three-member FFC, constituted under the Central Metro Act by the Union government, comprised Justice (retd) E Padmanabhan, former law secretary TK Vishwanathan and former Maharashtra chief secretary JK Banthia. The MMRDA was insisting on a fare structure of Rs 9-13 as per the concession agreement it had signed with MMOPL, while the latter being designated as ‘Metro Rail Administrator’ as per the Metro Act, under which the project was brought midway, fixed the tariff at Rs 10-40. The MMRDA had challenged the MMOPL in the Bombay HC and subsequently the SC, which set a deadline for the FFC to come up with its recommendation.

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