Should citizens pay for delays?

According to BMRCL sources, the tariff works out to R1.94 per km in Bangalore, while the fare in Delhi is R1.76 per km and 53 paise in Kolkata

The city's Metro project, already plagued with delays, may still have a few unpleasant surprises in store for Bangaloreans. If sources in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) are to be believed, then the fare for the Namma Metro ride will be costliest in the country. The reasonu00a0-- escalation of project cost because of the tardy pace of work.


Running late: The six stations along the stretch Reach-1 are still under
construction and the works are just completed by 75 per cent

Though the rates are not yet final, a BMRCL official said that according to the corporation's calculation, the tariff works out to be higher than that of the Metros in Delhi and Kolkata.

Sources said the corporation was contemplating on charging Rs 35 for the 18 km stretch between Byappana Halli and Mysore Road that makes the East-West Corridor of the Metro Rail. And it works out to an average price of Rs 1.94 per km, whereas it is Rs 1.76 in Delhi and Rs 0.53 in Kolkata.

"The rates are almost finalised, because we have to recover the cost of the project that has nearly doubled from the original estimation," said a senior officer in BMRCL.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs 6,500 crore, when the project was conceived 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.

Further delays
However, it is unlikely BMRCL meeting the deadline, considering the pace at which the work is going on. The Reach-1, between Byappana Halli and MG Raod, of the East-West Corridor had to be commissioned this month, but there is no sign that it will be open to public before March next year. The works of the other phases are going to be delayed further.

"I agree we are missing the deadline as the pace is not as per our plan and this has resulted in escalation of the cost of the project," said Yashwant Chavan, chief engineer and BMRCL spokesperson. "Butu00a0u00a0 I can't say how this will impact the tariff rates at this stage."

He said that board sub-committee on tariffs was working on the rates for first six kilometers, and the board would decide on the final rates. "Nothing has been finalised yet," he added.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is charging Rs 15 for 8.5 km that works out to Rs 1.76 a km. In Kolkata the rates are fixed for stagesu00a0-- Rs 4 is charged for first 5 km, Rs 6 for 10 km, and Rs 8 for 15 km. The final stage tariff rates works out to Rs 0.53 per km that makes Kolkata Metro Rail the cheapest in the country.

"The idea is to have tariff rates for the Metro Rail 1.5 times that of the BMTC bus," said N M Srihari, advisor to the government on transport, traffic and infrastructure. "The BMRCL must see that the service is affordable for every commuter, and it must not be costlier than auto service."

Slow pace
He criticised the board sub-committee looking into the tariff rates. "A body which is a neutral third party must decide on the tariff rates," he said. "BMRCL, who is responsible for the delay of the project should not be allowed take such decisions. They have made the cost escalating and trying to make up the losses by going for higher rates, which is unacceptable."

While BMRCL says that the main track work will be done by next week, it is unlikely to keep its promise as the electric lines are yet to be drawn. The six stations along the stretch of Reach-1 are still under construction and the only 75 per cent work is complete.

Did you know?
The cost for Metro was Rs 6,500 crore in 2004. It was revised to Rs 8,500 crore in 2007 and was again revised by another Rs 11,160 crore with a deadline for 2013