Mumbai: In a step towards inclusive public transport, the Mumbai Metro administration has approved a 25% concession on monthly passes for differently-abled commuters on Metro Line-3. The benefit is expected to be implemented within the next ten days after necessary updates to the ticketing system. The move has been welcomed by activists advocating for accessible mobility.
The decision comes after sustained efforts by senior journalist and “Arogyadoot” (Health Ambassador) Deepak Kaitke, who had formally appealed to the Mumbai Metro authorities and the state government seeking fare relief for differently-abled passengers.
While acknowledging the administration’s response, Kaitke has urged officials to revise the concession further. In a post tagging @MumbaiMetro3 and Deputy Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis, he wrote:
“The concession should be linked to the percentage of disability. Metro Line-3 is not yet fully accessible, so many of us need a companion to travel. We request that at least a 50% concession be considered.”
Due to incomplete accessibility features on Line-3, independent commuting remains challenging for many differently-abled passengers. Commuters say that the newly announced 25% concession, though appreciated, may not be sufficient until full barrier-free infrastructure is in place.
While the announcement marks progress in Mumbai’s journey toward inclusive transport, advocates are hopeful that the government and metro administration will soon consider a more equitable, disability-based concession model.
