Mumbai Metro security cost borne by MMRDA and profit cornered by Ambani's MMOPL

Mumbai Metro One which was constructed on a PPP Platform, and has inflicted burden on the common Mumbaikars by unilateral increase in its fares, forcing the Govt to approach the Courts. Though the unprecedented and unilateral increase of the fares by Ambani controlled MMOPL may be earning its profits, the actual cost of the security for its smooth run is being paid for by the MMRDA . In a shocking revelation it has now come to knowledge through a reply to a RTI query by Activist Anil Galgali that in the past one year the MMRDA has spent almost Rs 28.14 crores on the security of the Metro. RTI Activist Anil Galgali had filed an RTI query seeking details of expenditure incurred on the security of Mumbai Metro One. MMRDA administration, in reply to the query informed Anil Galgali that, a total annual security agreement cost was Rs 21.77 crores, also Rs 4.27 was paid as security deposit, as well as one month advance charges, also an expected cost of Rs 28.80 Lakhs was fixed for provision of Sniffer Dogs totalling Rs 28 crores 13 lakhs 80 thousand. From April 2014 to January 2015, MMRDA has made a payment of Rs 8 crores 69 lakhs 66 thousand to the Maharashtra State Security Corporation in past 10 months. MMRDA has also paid Rs 32 Lakhs @ of Rs 3.20 lakhs per month for the past 10 months on account of Sniffer Dogs to the MMOPL against its own estimated cost of Rs 28.80 Lakhs for 12 months for the dogs. The decision of the security was taken on 22nd October 2010 in a meeting held along with the Chief Secretary and the Mumbai Police. The Metro company had expressed its opinion of provision of security through Private companies, where as the Police dept cited that the Metro as well as Mono Rails were soft targets for anti social elements and hence the security be provided to trained govt security agencies like CISF etc. Because of this the responsibility of security came on MMRDA, which has to now spend crores of public funds on security of a private partnership venture, through which it has yet not earned a single rupee and is operated by the Reliance group as its own private venture and has not even bothered to listen to MMRDA on important public issues, alleged Anil Galgali. Galgali further stated that, this expenses should be solely borne by the MMOPL as MMRDA has not earned any thing out of this project, neighter is there any chance for it. In a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya and MMRDA Commissioner UPS Madan, RTI Activist Anil Galgali has demanded that the expenses incurred on security be recovered from MMOPL, also the responsibility of arranging and paying for the cost of security be fixed on the profit making MMOPL instead of MMRDA.