The Delhi Government has asserted that the decision of fare hike for the second time in a year by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be clear violation of the law.
According to the Government, DMRC can’t bypass the 2002 law by which it came into existence and the Fare Fixation Committee recommendations are being selectively implemented.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Central Government to invoke its powers under Section 86 of the Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002 to put on hold any fare hike till the entire matter is reviewed jointly by the Central and Delhi Governments.
“The Delhi Government has never interfered in DMRC functioning, but the Government can’t remain a mute spectator when commuters are being hit,” said the AAP leader, adding, “The repeated statements from the DMRC and those arguing in favour of the fare hike have referred to the decision of the Fare Fixation Committee.”
Quoting section 37 of the Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, the AAP leader mentioned, “Recommendations to be binding on metro railway administration. The recommendations made by the Fare Fixation Committee shall be binding on the metro railway administration.
“Since the above mentioned section is clear, therefore the DMRC needs to answer how the committee’s recommendation which states that, “there shall be a gap of one year between two fare hikes”, has been violated by the Delhi Metro and on what basis is the second hike is being defended by its officialsIJ”
This may be noted that in May, the DMRC hiked the metro fare and according to AAP leaders, the second fare hike cannot be implemented in the short span of five month as per the law.
“It is also a matter of serious concern that the objections raised by the elected Delhi Government were ignored by the Fare Fixation Committee in September 2016,” the AAP leader said.