The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry (HUA) and the Delhi Metro Board of Directors on Monday were on the same page on the issue of going ahead with the hike in fares of Delhi Metro from Tuesday.
While in a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, HUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri rejected three new suggestions made by the Delhi Chief Minister, saying they were in violation of the Metro Act and policies, the Board of Directors of Delhi Metro discussed the issue till late in the night and finally decided to go ahead with the hike.
Sources privy to the developments said, “The Board of Directors refused to interfere in the matter of Delhi Metro fare hike. The Board noted that it did not have the competence to consider/defer implementation of the recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC).”
In the meeting, the nominees of the Delhi Government requested to put the fare hike on hold and set up a new FFC.
Earlier, Kejriwal had suggested bearing the burden of a metro subsidy to avoid a fare hike; handing over Delhi Metro to the Delhi Government and financing of operational expenses of the Delhi Metro.
Responding to the CM’s suggestion that the Delhi Government was ready to take over the metro to make it efficient and economical, Puri suggested that if the Government was keen to prove its abilities, it could take over Delhi Metro Phase IV under the new Metro Policy recently announced by the Centre. Puri urged the Delhi CM not to politicise the metro fare hike.
Puri also dismissed Kejriwal’s suggestion that the Centre and the Delhi Government share the operational expenses of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), saying it would be a violation of the existing policy governing financing of metro projects.
Puri also dismissed Kejriwal’s claim that the DMRC’s efficiency is “below par”, saying its quality standards are comparable with the best in the world and it is one of the success stories of India.
With the decision not to put the fare hike on hold, from Tuesday, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10. In the existing fare structure passengers have to pay Rs 10 up to 2 kms, Rs 15 for 2-5 kms, Rs 20 for 5-12 kms, Rs 30 for 12-21 kms, Rs 40 for 21-32 kms and Rs 50 for journeys beyond 32 kms.
From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20. For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Assembly passed a resolution to oppose the proposed metro fare hike, with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleging that it was a “conspiracy” to benefit private cab operators.
The resolution, moved by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, was passed by a voice vote in the House. Without naming the Centre, Sisodia said there was an attempt to make the Delhi Metro “premium public transport”, but the AAP Government would not allow it.
Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also wrote to Puri, urging him to withhold the hike, citing the resolution.
Earlier, in a response to the Delhi CM, Puri said, “While I appreciate your confidence, enthusiasm and keenness to take on more responsibility, I am constrained to point out that this again is also not in line with existing policy. The Policy in respect of 50:50 joint venture metro projects as is the case of DMRC, does not envisage metro operations either by the State or Central Governments. It is precisely for this reason that Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) have been created and are meant to do so.”
Puri further said, “What you call ‘the simpler course of advising the nominees of the Central and State Governments on the Board of DMRC to postpone the hike for a few months’. What you characterize as “simpler course” is not in conformity with the relevant Act of Parliament and your suggestion amounts to a clear violation of this Act, which is completely unacceptable in our democracy.”
“But need to keep Delhi Transport Corporation in mind; delay in Phase IV deprived about 40 lakh people of the benefit of metro services,” he said.
On the Kolkata Metro, the Minister said that it was a department of Indian Railways which has a different financing pattern from that of Delhi Metro. “It is fully financed by Railways and running on huge losses and cannot be compared with Delhi Metro,” said Puri.