Delhi govt forms panel to look into 'rationale' behind metro fare hike

The Delhi Assembly today passed a resolution to form a nine-member committee to look into the "rationale" behind the metro fare hike as well as the financial health of the DMRC.

The resolution was passed by a voice vote following a discussion on a calling attention motion on metro fare hike vociferously opposed by the ruling AAP MLAs.

The motion for constitution of the committee was moved by AAP legislator Somnath Bharti. The members of the committee will be nominated by the Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

"This House agrees to constitute a nine-member committee to be nominated by the speaker to look into the rationale behind the hike in tariff by the DMRC, financial health of the DMRC and other related issues.

"The speaker shall also determine the specific terms and conditions for the committee," the resolution stated.

During the discussion, opposition BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa termed the fare hike as "sad" and charged the Delhi government of not taking any step in time to prevent it.

In his reply on the discussion, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot alleged that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Board meeting yesterday took the decision to implement the fare hike in "undemocratic manner" where the voice of the elected Delhi government was "sidelined".

His colleague and Urban Development Minister Satyender Jain said the ridership in metro will come down significantly due to fare hike.

"Based on facts, I can say that the ridership in Metro will come down due to the fare hike. There is conspiracy to increase (traffic) congestion in Delhi," Jain told the House.

The ruling AAP and Opposition BJP also accused one another for the fare hike saying that it was aimed at providing benefit to private cab aggregators.

"If the fares of Ola, Uber (cab aggregators) will be lesser, people will not use Metro," Gahlot said.

The fare hike that came into effect today increased ticket prices to Rs 10 for all travels beyond 5 km.

The hike which comes barely five months within the last one, will affect every commuter who travels beyond 5 km. The maximum fare, for journeys beyond 32 km, will now be Rs 60.

The hike opposed by the AAP government in Delhi was finalised by the DMRC Board in its meeting yesterday late evening.

The Board refused to "interfere" in the matter, saying it has no power to change the recommendations of the fare fixation committee (FCC), which had proposed the hike.