Labelling Delhi Metro as unaffordable is unfair but it must strike a balance between financial sustainability and affordability
A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which claimed that the Delhi Metro is one of the most unaffordable forms of public transport system in the world has created a ruckus. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has come down heavily on the NGO and termed the report “misleading”. Let us examine some figures. According to figures, in June 2016 its average daily ridership was more than 27 lakh people. This figure was expected to see a steep rise to up to 39 lakh once the third phase of the Delhi Metro was functional by the end of the same year. Subsequent to the fare hike in May 2017, the average daily ridership fell to about 25 lakh. Consequent to the second hike in October of the same year, ridership fell to 24.2 lakh. Ridership of 22.71 lakh, 23.01 lakh and 22.18 lakh were recorded in the months of December 2017 and January and February 2018 respectively. More recent figures, for last month, showed that daily ridership had again touched the 28 lakh-mark. All of this would suffice to conclude that while Delhi Metro ridership did indeed dip due to the fare hike, it has revived after a brief period because it is the only safe, reliable, quick and relatively affordable mode of public transport in the Capital. At the same time, it is also a fact that DMRC has definitely failed to meet the daily ridership of 39 lakh target it had set itself, owing in the main to the rise in fares.
Two fare hikes in quick succession in 2017, which it is fair to point out came only after eight years of no hikes, did however make a dent in commuters' pockets. But there is a cost for efficiency and the CSE's accusations seem akin to asking for a free lunch. The Metro is now an integral part of almost all cities around the world and Delhi is no different. Non-extortionate but reasonable fares are essential for its survival and maintenance. A comparison of fares between Delhi and London, Hong Kong, Berlin or Shanghai will reveal that the minimum fare cost of the Delhi metro is substantially less than in the other mega cities. It is to the Delhi Metro's credit that it has become the lifeline for dilliwallahs. It is also the safest as well as the most convenient mode of travel. Its operation has provided a huge fillip to economic activity too. Having said that, Delhi Metro must always strive to live up to its users' expectations and maintain that golden mean between financial sustainability and affordability.