Panel Formed to Look into ‘Rationale’ Behind Metro Fare Hike

The Delhi Metro fares were increased in May 2016.

(Photo: iStock)

The Delhi Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to form a nine-member committee to look into the "rationale" behind the metro fare hike as well as the financial health of the DMRC.

The resolution was passed by a voice vote following a discussion on a calling attention motion on metro fare hike vociferously opposed by the ruling AAP MLAs.

The motion for constitution of the committee was moved by AAP legislator Somnath Bharti. The members of the committee will be nominated by Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

Fare Hike is a “Conspiracy to Increase Congestion in Delhi” Alleges Urban Development Minister

This House agrees to constitute a nine-member committee to be nominated by the Speaker to look into the rationale behind the hike in tariff by the DMRC, financial health of the DMRC and other related issues... The speaker shall also determine the specific terms and conditions for the committee.

The resolution

During the discussion, opposition BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa termed the fare hike "sad" and charged the Delhi government of not taking any step in time to prevent it.

In his reply on the discussion, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot alleged that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Board meeting took the decision to implement the fare hike in an "undemocratic manner" where the voice of the elected Delhi government was "sidelined".

His colleague and Urban Development Minister Satyender Jain said the ridership in the metro will come down significantly due to the fare hike.

"Based on facts, I can say that the ridership in Metro will come down due to the fare hike. There is conspiracy to increase (traffic) congestion in Delhi," Jain told the House.

AAP-BJP Accuse Each Other for Fare Hike

The ruling AAP and Opposition BJP also accused one another for the fare hike saying that it was aimed at providing benefit to private cab aggregators.

"If the fares of Ola, Uber (cab aggregators) will be lesser, people will not use Metro," Gahlot said.

The hike which comes barely five months within the last one, will affect every commuter who travels beyond 5 km.

The maximum fare, for journeys beyond 32 km, will now be Rs 60.

The Board refused to "interfere" in the matter, saying it has no power to change the recommendations of the fare fixation committee which had proposed the hike.