Mumbai Metro’s 25% Disability Travel Discount Currently Only Available to iPhone Users
Disability concession on Mumbai Metro limited to iOS app users as Android update awaits Google approval.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has introduced a 25% fare concession for passengers with disabilities on its Metro Line 3, but with a significant caveat: the discounted trip passes are currently accessible only via the MetroConnect-3 app on iPhones, excluding Android users for now. The corporation has explained that the upgrade for Android users is still awaiting approval from the Google Play Store, and once authorized, the discount will be extended to all Android commuters with disabilities.
Deepak Kaitake, a disabled media professional and activist, criticized this rollout as “unreasonable” and pointed out the digital barrier it creates for many passengers. He emphasized that while other public transport services in Maharashtra, such as MSRTC, local trains, and BEST buses, offer a 50% fare concession for persons with disabilities, Mumbai Metro’s initiative falls short due to the restricted app availability. Kaitake also highlighted existing physical accessibility challenges faced by disabled passengers, including the absence of wheelchair ramps, Braille signage, voice-activated instructions, and priority entrances at metro stations, which force many to rely on caregivers for assistance.
Following these concerns, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale urged the Maharashtra government to consider making metro travel completely free for disabled passengers. In his letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Athawale underscored the metro as a convenient and safe transit option and encouraged the state government to align metro concessions with other disability benefits offered at various levels.
Also Read: MEA Launches E-Passports: Here’s How It Will Transform the Way You Travel
MMRCL has acknowledged the issue and assured that the Android app update will be available imminently. Currently, the concession applies to the new underground Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, which features air-conditioned stations and modern accessibility features aiming to enhance the travel experience for disabled and all commuters. The 25% discount is expected to significantly reduce travel costs for disabled passengers once the app is fully functional across all platforms.
This development is seen as a positive step towards inclusive urban mobility, but advocates urge faster rectification of digital and physical accessibility gaps so that the benefits can reach the intended passengers without undue delay or discrimination.
Also Read: WhatsApp Flaw Reveals Phone Numbers of 3.5 Billion Users Across 245 Countries
