While refusing to interfere with the Bombay High Court order staying the proposed increase in the fares of Mumbai Metro One, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the high court to hear the matter on Friday.
The apex court bench of Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice Arun Mishra asked the high court 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.