Ruling AAP, BJP Urge Delhi Metro Corporation to Halt Fare Hike

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday described the proposed metro fare hike as “anti-people”.

The Delhi Metro fares were increased in May 2016.

(Photo: iStock)

Come 10 October, and rides in the Delhi metro are bound to get costlier, with the DMRC announcing that the ticket fare would see a maximum increase of Rs 10.

The ruling AAP and the opposition BJP have opposed the hike.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed his Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot to look into the matter and the president of city BJP unit, Manoj Tiwari, too urged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) management to review its decision for fare hike.

The Delhi government directed the DMRC to put off the impending fare hike till its Transport Department completes an inquiry to ascertain whether the view of the city administration was considered while taking the decision.

Kejriwal, on 28 September, said the proposed metro fare hike was “anti-people” and that he has asked Gehlot to find a way to stop it.

According to a Hindustan Times report, while ticket fares for between 2-5 kilometers would go up by Rs 5, for the other distance zones, the ticket price is likely to go up by Rs 10.

Did May Hike Affect Ridership?

The Delhi Metro fares were increased following the recommendations of the fourth Fare Fixation Committee.

In May, the minimum fare was hiked from Rs 8 to Rs 10, while the maximum fare was hiked from Rs 30 to Rs 50.

Also Read: Delhi Metro Briefly Runs With Doors Open Between Stations

Following the increase of price in May, the ridership for the month of June alone dropped by 44.8 lakh, across all six lines.

DMRC data showed that while the Delhi Metro handled eight lakh more passengers in May 2017, it carried 34 lakh extra passengers in April 2017 as compared to the riders during the same period last year.

The DMRC has been pushing for an increase in fares since 2009, when they were last revised. But the process was stalled since the central government hadn’t set up a committee to fix fares. 

A three-member panel was set up only in June last year.

Also Read: Delhi Metro Ridership Falls Sharply After Fare Hike

(With inputs from Hindustan Times, PTI)