Bombay HC to hear Mumbai Metro fare hike plea today

New Delhi: On the directives of the Supreme Court, the Bombay High Court will on Friday hear a plea seeking stay on the proposed increase in the fares of Mumbai Metro One.

On Wednesday, the apex court bench of Justice MY Eqbal and Justice Arun Mishra had asked the HC to take up the matter on January 29 as counsel for Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) urged the court for an expeditious hearing of the matter.

Mumbai Metro One that operates its services on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route had proposed the increase in fares and the Fares Fixation Committee (FFC) had fixed the tariff in the Rs 10 to Rs 110 band.

 

The MMOPL had moved the apex court challenging the December 17 interim order of the Bombay High Court putting on hold the increase in the fare. The high court had said that it would first examine the FFC report and then the justification for increase in fares.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had moved the high court questioning the hike in fares by the FFC. The Maharashtra government too felt that the increase in fares was steep.

(With IANS inputs)