Mumbai Metro: over to Rail Board, says RInfra

Reliance Infrastructure, which is operating the Mumbai Metro, has said that it would commence the services within seven days of receiving the Railway Board nod for the rolling stock.

The company has already received the final safety clearance certificate from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CRMS) to launch the services, a Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) spokesperson said in a statement here.

"We are happy to advise that CMRS after carrying out intensive safety inspection has given its sanction for opening the line," the statement said.

The company is now just awaiting approval of Rolling Stock from the Railway Board, for which the papers have been submitted on April 22, 2014, the company said adding, "We will open the line for commercial usage within seven days of such approval."

Recently, the Union Urban Department Ministry brought the Mumbai Metro One under the Central Metro Act, allowing the operator to fix the fare structure, which was the bone of contention between Anil Ambani-promoted RInfra and the state government.

As per the state government's notification, the minimum fare was to be Rs 9 and maximum Rs 13 in the first year.

Later, after every four years, the fares were to increase by 11 per cent and at the end of the 35-year concession period (2044-45) the minimum fare was to be Rs 24 and maximum Rs 37.

MMOPL, however, now maintains that the fares notified by the state earlier are no longer applicable and that the new fares would be affordable.