As forecasted by MiD DAY, the Bangalore Metro service is going to cost you more, compared with the other two services
As forecasted by MiD DAY, the Bangalore Metro service is going to cost you more, compared with the other two services
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The Bangalore Metro train service turned out to be the costliest in the country, when the BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation) announced the tariff rates for the reach-1 on Saturday. MiD DAY had earlier reported on the same in December last year.
Total recall: MiD DAY had reported this last December, saying the
average price would be Rs 1.95 for a km, while is Rs 1.76 in Delhi and
53 paise in Kolkata.u00a0 Pic/Ramesh H S
While the minimum rate is Rs 10, the commuter has to pay Rs 15 for the stretch of 6.7 km between Bypappanahalli and MG Road, the Reach-1 of the east-west corridor between Bypappanahalli and Mysore Road, that is expected be thrown open to public in the first week of April.
MiD DAY had reported this last December, saying the average price would be Rs 1.95 for a km, while is Rs 1.76 in Delhi and 53 paise in Kolkata.
However, with the announced rates the average price works out to be Rs 2.23 per km for now, it would be back to Rs 1.95 as the corporation is understood to be contemplating on charging Rs 35 for the entire east-west corridor of a stretch of 18 km.
"I can't say what would be the rate of east-west corridor north-south corridor now, as it is left to the sub-committee to decide on the pricing. As of now, it is finalised for only reach-1," said Yashwant Chavan, chief PRO, BMRCL."
Blame it on delay
The north-south corridor is a stretch of 22 km between Yeshwanthpur and South End Circle in Jayanagar. BMRCL sources blame the price rise on the project cost that has escalated because of the delay in the works.
The estimated cost of the project was Rs 6,500 crore in 2004. That was revised to Rs 8,300 crore, when the works commenced in 2007. Now, it is again revised to Rs 11,160 crore for the 2013 deadline.
However, it is unlikely that BMRCL will meet the deadline, considering the pace at which the work is going on. Reach-1 had to be commenced last December, but the deadline was extended to April this year. The works of the other phases are going to be delayed further.
"I agree we have missed the deadline because of slow pace of work, and price rise because of the escalated cost of the project. But I can't say how this will impact the tariff rates at this stage," said N Sivasailam, MD, BMRCL. He added that the board sub-committee on tariff was working on the rates for the subsequent stages and would decide on the final rates.
"The idea is to have tariif rates for the Metro 1.5 times that of the BMTC bus, " said M N Srihari, advisor to the government on infrastructure. " The BMRCL must see that the service is affordable for every commuter, and it must not be costlier than the auto service."
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