Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot asked the Chief Secretary to tell Government-nominated directors on the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) board to aggressively oppose the proposed metro fare increase at the board’s meeting.
In his written directive to Chief Secretary MM Kutty, who is a member of the DMRC board, Gahlot asked him to ensure that a meeting of the board is convened before October 9 and a decision is taken by the body to defer the proposed hike. The proposed increase in fare, within five months of the previous hike, is scheduled to be effective from October 10.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government is opposed to the hike by the DMRC. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has termed the DMRC’s proposed move anti-people.
According to Gahlot, the Government has five directors nominated on the DMRC board, including the managing director.
“It is directed that a meeting of all Government-nominated directors, including the DMRC’s MD, be convened by you with a view to direct them to aggressively put up the stand of the Delhi Government against the proposed fare hike,” Gahlot said in the directive to Kutty. He asked the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the action taken on these pointson Friday.
Earlier this week, Kejriwal directed Kutty to initiate action to convene an emergency meeting of the DMRC board on the proposed fare hike.
On Wednesday, the AAP Government had moved a resolution in the Delhi Assembly against the hike. The discussion on the same will be held on Monday.