The massive infrastructure endeavor, valued at over $13 billion, which involved creating 9 kilometers of twin tunnels beneath Melbourne’s central business district along with five new subterranean stations, is slated to launch this Sunday.

However, a pedestrian underpass linking two central stations has drawn attention after it surfaced that users accessing shops at Melbourne Central via this walkway would incur a fee exceeding $5.

The State Library and Melbourne Central stations, located just a few meters apart, are connected by an underground concourse along La Trobe Street.

Pedestrians looking to bypass crowded sidewalks or adverse weather by using the underpass were informed that tapping on at the State Library and exiting at Melbourne Central, less than 50 meters away, would result in a full fare charge.

Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams commented, “It’s a ticketed train station area… I don’t think it’s that confusing.”

Premier Jacinta Allan told media today that Myki’s change-of-mind policy, which doesn’t charge commuters who tap on and off at the same station within 15 minutes, would apply.

But that message was at odds with a post on Metro Tunnel’s social media.

“Touching on your myki at State Library Station and touching off at Melbourne Central Station will be counted as a trip and your myki will be charged,” Metro Tunnel said on X last night.

The state government backflipped on its stance late today, confirming it intends to leave a gate open at the stations to allow pedestrians to travel through the underpass for free.

“As a result of building five brand new stations, two of which connect to existing stations, we want to make them fully accessible because we want Victorians to make the most of them,” a government spokesperson said.

“We will have one gate open at both Town Hall and State Library stations to provide a free thoroughfare and Metro Trains staff will be out in force to help passengers.

“These underpasses will be open to everyone with no Myki required.”

Town Hall Station is located on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane, near Flinders Street Station.

The Metro Tunnel has been in the pipeline for 10 years making Sunday’s grand opening long-awaited.

But it will be nearly another year before all the station entries are open.

The Flinders Street Station entrance at Young and Jacksons will open early next year, while the entry at Federation Square is still another year off.

To celebrate the opening, the state government is offering free public transport on weekends from November 30 to February 1.

From November 30, 240 extra train services will run through the tunnel as the service integrates into the network.

The Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will run exclusively through the new tunnels from February.