Mumbaikars would be able to travel through multiple modes including bus, metro, mono and sub-urban locals as well as private operators like Uber by availing a single ticket. Railway department has agreed for the integrating system.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal on Thursday reviewed various projects in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Fadnavis directed the officials to expedite land acquisition for sanctioned projects and expedite projects for which budget allocation has been made.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Railways were yet to zero in on a payment mode for the single ticketing system also known as integrated ticketing system.
The MMRDA had proposed to implement the ITS by the year-end, but the MMRDA and the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corp (MRVC), representing Railways, differ on the mode of payment due to which it has got delayed. The basic difference between the two modes of payment is where the money is goes after a particular transaction. In case of, store value passes, it is in the card post transaction and in case of account based ones, money is in the bank accounts of the commuter. An MMRDA official said, "There was difference in the mode of payment but today Railways has given nod for the single ticketing system."
Another official from Railways informed that the five operators except for Railways had shown their readiness for single ticket or integrated ticketing system. He informed that Railways on Thursday's meeting has told that they are ready for integrated ticketing system and it can come in to existence after a year or so. With a single ticket or booking through online system, anyone can travel by just scanning QR code at various places by using multiple transport operators including metro, Mono, Bus, Uber and sub-urban local train.
Fadnavis directed MMRDA, CIDCO and Mumbai Railway Development Corporation to expedite land acquisition for laying railway line on various new routes. CST-Panvel, Churchgate-Virar corridor, elevated corridors at various stations, high speed railway, over bridges and amenities at various stations. The Mumbai Railway Development Board gave a presentation on current status of various projects.
The meeting also discussed land acquisition for Ahmednagar-Beed-Parali Vaijanath, Wardha-Ballarshah, Kalyan-Kasara, Bhusaval-Jalgaon, Wardha-Nagpur, Goregaon-Borivli, Borivli-Virar, Kalyan-Asangaon, Kalyan-Badlapur, Panvel-Karjat and Roha-Veer routes and also discussed laying second and third line on these routes. The meeting also discussed land acquisition for the new Belapur-Seawood-Uran track and Panvel-Kalamboli coaching terminal as well as Ghatkopar-Uran route.
