1 ticket for all your rides in next 6 months

CM and railway minister iron out differences over mode of payment for single ticketing system

MUMBAI: The single ticket system for all modes of public transport in Mumbai and its satellite towns is likely to become a reality in the next six months as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday overcame the final hurdle: the mode of payment. They also decided to fast-track major suburban railway projects stuck because of land acquisition and rehabilitation issues.

At a cost of Rs130 crore, the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is a first-of-its kind project in the country. Although the state had planned to launch the system by the end of this year, the authorities disputed on payment mode. While the state has finalised account based system (ABS), which maintains user’s balance on a server, the Railways wanted ABS and a store value card-based system (SVC). Under SVC, the balance is stored in cards. ABS is a more advanced system, which lets commuters travel without the card, and they can simply use their phones to pass through ticketing gates. “Issues to implement ITS in Mumbai have been resolved in the meeting held today,” Fadnavis tweeted later.

“The Railways was insisting upon SVC which is being adopted in cities such as Delhi and Kochi. But they have agreed upon ABS,” said a senior official from MMRDA, the implementing authority.

ITS is likely to benefit more than one crore commuters.

Meanwhile, the state government has given an in-principle approval to build more floors in the influence zone under MUTP-3A, which costs Rs55,000 crore. It has set a floor space

index of 5 for construction.

Fadnavis and Goyal also discussed land acquisition issues for the 6th line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, Belapur-seawood-uran new line project, Panvel-kalamboli coaching terminus and doubling of the Rohaveer line. Railway officials vowed to complete the 12.5-km

Seawood-kharkopar line will be ready in the next two months. Fadnavis and Goyal decided to take measures to fast-track projects under MUTP. In another meeting between civic officials and Goyal, it was decided that the Railways and BMC will build partially shut Delisle or Lower Parel bridge.