State govt doles out Metro line sops for Mumbaiites

MUMBAI : The Maharashtra government on Tuesday approved two more Metro lines — Metro 2B: connecting DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd and Metro 4: connecting Wadala-Ghatkopar-Teen Hath Naka and Kasarvadavli. The approval for both the projects is expected to make commuting much easier and faster.

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The 172-km-long Metro network is one of the most important cornerstones of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ government, which is likely to be highlighted ahead of the crucial 2017 civic polls. The approvals were issued during a state ministerial council meeting chaired by Fadnavis.

Besides approving the two projects, the government also decided to introduce a single tariff system for the four Metro corridors approved so far — Metro 2A, 2B, 4 and 7 — with the maximum one-way ticket costing not more than Rs80. Officials from the urban development department told HT that commuters would no longer be required to buy separate tickets while travelling on any of the four Metro lines while covering a distance of 93-km. While the minimum fare for a 3-km ride will be Rs10. But the fare fixation committee has been given all the rights for making changes in the tariff system, sources said.

Moreover, commuters would be paying indirectly to help the state recover a part of the project cost by paying additional 1% stamp duty (wherever applicable) while making purchases along the Metro corridors. The state cabinet also gave an in principle nod for transport oriented development (TOD) in the influence areas along the Metro corridors. It means that extra floor space index (FSI) will be given by the municipal corporation in exchange for a premium and from the total revenue generated, 50% will be passed on to the state, which in turn will be used to fund the other Metro projects. A similar approval was given for levying a development charge on builders in the influence areas when they get their plans cleared from the building proposal department. Also, a proposal to levy a surcharge on stamp duty by 1% on the sale and transfer of flats in the areas around the metro was cleared.

“A separate notification will have to issued for implementing transit oriented development, as well as levy of development charges and stamp duty surcharge. This is only an in principle approval,’’ said UPS Madan, (MMRDA) commissioner.