Maharashtra government mulls takeover of the 11 km Versova-Andheri-Gahtkopar Metro I project or negotiate with Anil Ambani group company Reliance Infrastructure following its demand for three fold increase in tariff due to delays in its commissioning. The 3 km Versova to Azad Nagar stretch which was to be commissioned in September will become operational in December as the Commissioner of Railway Safety has yet to grant safety approval. However, its commissioning hangs in the balance if the state-run Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Reliance Infrastructure led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MOPL) fail to arrive at an agreement over the tariff hike. It must be mentioned here that Reliance Infrastructure has walked out of the Delhi airport metro link citing structural issues.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said the unless and until the Commissioner of Railway Safety grants its nod the project will not be commissioned. On top of it, he admitted that the tariff rise demand made by MOPL has yet to be sorted out. "There are two options take over or negotiations and arbitration. Takeover is quite impossible. We will have to see. Already deadlines have been missed. I am hopeful the project will be operational by end of calendar year,'' he noted.
The fares at 2003-04 level were pegged at Rs 6 for less than three km, Rs 8 for travel between three to eight km and Rs 10 for travelling beyond eight km as per the concession agreement. As per the same agreement, 11per cent tariff revision was permissible after every four years. The fares are estimated to be Rs 13.7 in the highest distance bracket. However, MOPL has made a demand for Rs 28-30 fare for the travel of 8 km and beyond.
Further, Chavan opined that the metro project should not have been given on BOT basis but should have been implemented on the lines of Delhi metro. He said in view of lack of clearance for depot, the 32 km Mumbai metro II project between Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd, which has been bagged by Reliance Infrastructure way back in 2009, would have to be scrapped. ''The decision has yet to be taken by the cabinet committee on infrastructure led by me. All issues regarding bid bond and legal issues will be examined before taking a formal decision to cancel the project,'' he noted.
On the Rs 23,000 crore Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro III corridor, Chavan said the project would not be undertaken on BOT basis.
Moreover, Chavan said the government will also scrap the Rs 5,000 crore Worli Haji Ali sea link project bagged by the Reliance Infrastructure. ''A proposal in this regard has yet to be moved by the state run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. After it is cleared by it, the cabinet committee on infrastructure will take a final decision in this regard,'' he added
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said the unless and until the Commissioner of Railway Safety grants its nod the project will not be commissioned. On top of it, he admitted that the tariff rise demand made by MOPL has yet to be sorted out. "There are two options take over or negotiations and arbitration. Takeover is quite impossible. We will have to see. Already deadlines have been missed. I am hopeful the project will be operational by end of calendar year,'' he noted.
The fares at 2003-04 level were pegged at Rs 6 for less than three km, Rs 8 for travel between three to eight km and Rs 10 for travelling beyond eight km as per the concession agreement. As per the same agreement, 11per cent tariff revision was permissible after every four years. The fares are estimated to be Rs 13.7 in the highest distance bracket. However, MOPL has made a demand for Rs 28-30 fare for the travel of 8 km and beyond.
Further, Chavan opined that the metro project should not have been given on BOT basis but should have been implemented on the lines of Delhi metro. He said in view of lack of clearance for depot, the 32 km Mumbai metro II project between Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd, which has been bagged by Reliance Infrastructure way back in 2009, would have to be scrapped. ''The decision has yet to be taken by the cabinet committee on infrastructure led by me. All issues regarding bid bond and legal issues will be examined before taking a formal decision to cancel the project,'' he noted.
On the Rs 23,000 crore Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro III corridor, Chavan said the project would not be undertaken on BOT basis.
Moreover, Chavan said the government will also scrap the Rs 5,000 crore Worli Haji Ali sea link project bagged by the Reliance Infrastructure. ''A proposal in this regard has yet to be moved by the state run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. After it is cleared by it, the cabinet committee on infrastructure will take a final decision in this regard,'' he added
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