DMRC defers decision to hike fares

In a major respite to commuters, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today deferred its decision to hike fares.
The Board could not decide on hiking the fare of Delhi Metro, based on the recommendation of the Fare Fixation Committee (FCC), since the Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma could not attend the meeting, a source said.
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.
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 Rs 10 from Rs 8 now, and the maximum fare to Rs 50 from Rs 30 at present.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had last time revised the fares in 2009.
The Government had in June this year set up at the 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 Rs 10-50 to mitigate the "adverse" impact on its financial health.