Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday deferred its decision to hike fares. The decision to defer the fare hike has come as a huge respite to the daily commuters. The Board could not decide on hiking the fare of Delhi Metro, based on the recommendation of the Fare Fixation Committee (FCC), since Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma could not attend the meeting, a source said.
Principal Secretary Finance SN Sahay, who attended the meeting sought time to study the report. Sources said after Principal Secretary's submission, the FCC deferred the hike. Now all eyes are on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal whose decision would be final in this regard.
Sharma, a member of the Board and also member of FCC, had signed the recommendations of the Committee which was set up by Urban Development Ministry to recommend the hike in passenger fares for Delhi Metro.
The Delhi Government, which was represented by the finance secretary, has sought more time to study the report, the source said.
"In this scenario, DMRC chairperson Rajiv Gauba, who is also Urban Development Secretary, has no option but to defer the decision in the matter," the source added.
In September, the committee had submitted its report, which had reportedly recommended the lowest fares to be increased to Rs10 from Rs8 now, and the maximum fare to Rs50 from Rs30 at present.
The DMRC had revised the fares last time
in 2009. The Government had in June this year set up a three-member committee under former Delhi High Court Judge, Justice (retd) M l Mehta to look into the fare revision issue.
Earlier, the DMRC had proposed a five-slab fare system in the range of Rs10-50 to mitigate the "adverse" impact on its financial health.