According to the DMRC officials, the hike was long pending as costs of functioning have increased over the last few years
Daily commuters and members of various Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) went up in arms against the Metro fare hike announced on Monday. The hike will come into effect from Wednesday. Commuters demanded an immediate rollback of the decision.
RWAs, including the United Residents Joint Action (URJA) and Delhi Residents' Forum, are now planning to write to the authorities to reconsider their decision.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which had been mulling over a hike for a long time, finally announced the revised fares on Monday. The minimum fare has been increased from Rs 8 to Rs 10 while the maximum fare has been hiked from Rs 30 to Rs 50, a DMRC spokesperson said.
The hike will be implemented in two phases. While the above arrangement will remain in force till September, the maximum fare would go up to Rs 60 in October. On Sundays and national holidays, however, the maximum fare would remain Rs 40. The DMRC board headed by Union Urban Development Secretary Rajib Gauba decided the hike on the basis of recommendations of a three-member Fare Fixation Committee.
According to the DMRC officials, the hike was long pending as costs of functioning have increased over the last few years. "The decision has been taken by an independent body. The last fare revision took place in 2009. The costs of repair and maintenance have gone up considerably while the power tariff, too, has increased." Even as the DMRC maintained that the hike was long due, commuters said the maximum fare was too steep.
"If I have to pay Rs 60 to travel from Kashmere Gate to Gurugram, that too in an overcrowded train where one has to stand the entire duration of 40 minutes, I might as well look for an alternate option," said Rajat Saxena, 24, who takes the Metro to work.
Commuters also said that except the Metro, the national Capital does not have other reliable means of public transport and the steep hike will discourage lakhs of commuters, such as students and low-income groups.
...& ANALYSIS
- The hike in fares would mainly affect students and low-income groups, for whom Metro was a feasible means of transport.
- It may force people to use other means of transport.
I have to travel from Dwarka to Noida for work. If I have to spend over Rs 50 every day on the commute, then what is the public transport for?
— Salonee Aggarwal, commuter
A minimum hike in fares, up to 5 per cent, would have been advisable. But the steep hike in maximum rates is not fair to the public. Thousands of people travel long distances to study or work every day. We plan to approach the authorities to reconsider their decision.
— Sandeep Bali, URJA Coordinator
Delhi Metro had come as a boon for women, but this hike will discourage so many commuters. Anyway, there is no effective network of buses to go long distances. The hike is not reasonable.
— Bhavna Arora, commuter
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