Single-ticket plan has BEST buses with Metro & monorail……Prashant Rangnekar
The MMRDAs single ticketing system for various modes of transport will integrate the Metro, the monorail and BEST buses.
Best was sharing a common ticketing system with the railways, but the undertaking a fortnight ago asked Kaizen Automation, which was running the system, to stop it following problems with the service.
The Metro and the monorail, of which the MMRDA is the nodal agency, are expected to be commissioned next year. A meeting held last week decided to appoint a consultant to study the integration of the Metro, monorail and BEST bus services into the ticketing service.
We have to put the project on the fast track. As of now, we are looking for a single card that can be used for travelling in the Metro, the monorail and BEST, additional metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas said. We will also write to the railways to join us as the integration would prove helpful for commuters
An MMRDA official said, We have to hurry as we have to take BEST along with us and the system involves sharing of revenue with different agencies.
Kaizen Automation, meanwhile, has stopped issuing and renewing monthly passes at various railway stations. After they stopped issuing the season tickets without prior information, we have asked them the reason. They said they had some labour issues, but would soon start the services, Central Railway chief spokesperson Shriniwas Mudgerikar said.