The Delhi Metro's ridership saw a slump in June, a month after a steep fare hike came into effect, according to DMRC records.
The average daily ridership of the metro in June was 25.7 lakh. The corresponding period last year, when newer sections were yet to be launched, had seen 27.2 lakh people using the network everyday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said, in response to an RTI query.
New Fares Since May, Fall in Ridership
The slump in June was observed across all corridors of the 218-km-long network. The total ridership came down by around 15 lakh and 21 lakh in the Yellow and Blue Lines in June, as compared to the same period the previous year.
In April, 27.5 lakh commuters took the metro daily on an average, though the figure slipped to around 26.5 lakh in May, when schools are closed for summer holidays.
April and May 2016 witnessed an average daily ridership of 26.3 lakh and 26.2 lakh respectively.
Since 10 May, the new minimum fare is Rs 10, up from Rs 8, while the maximum stands at Rs 50. It will turn Rs 60 from October.
The revised fare structure, Monday through Saturday, is: up to 2 kms – Rs 10, 2 to 5 kms – Rs 15, 5 to 12kms – Rs 20, 12 to 21kms – Rs 30, 21 to 32kms – Rs 40, and for journeys of over 32kms Rs 50.
Smart card users get a 10 percent discount, but that has not contributed towards any substantial rise in the number of cards issued post fare hike.
Reluctance to Divulge Ridership Data
The total number of smart cards issued in March, April, May and June are 4.07 lakh, 3.7 lakh, 3.74 lakh and 3.81 lakh respectively, the metro said, responding to the RTI application filed by this reporter.
However, the Delhi Metro attributed the reduction in ridership, by up to 5 percent, as "natural". A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson claimed:
This much variation is considered natural for any given months or period as a system spread over 218km, a fluctuation in ridership is always bound to be seen which is dependent on multiple factors like seasons, vacations, strikes or agitations.
The metro has been reluctant to divulge ridership data, which it shared with the media without any fuss till April, since the fare hike was put into effect.
The reply to the RTI application came after a 'first appeal'. Initially, the public information officer of DMRC had refused to share any data saying no such records are maintained in "material form".
The spokesperson claimed that ridership may have fallen marginally, but the metro registered an increase in terms of average distance travelled by commuters in the April to June quarter from 16.41km to 16.59km.
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