Commuters say better facilities may justify hike
The Metro fare hike has evoked mixed reactions from Delhiites with some welcoming the move and others questioning the timing of the decision.
Some commuters were happy with the fare revision hoping that it would translate into increased frequency in services but several others said that the hike must have come after providing better last-mile connectivity. Some even said that they may now switch to private transport as the cost difference would not be much.
Samit Khanna, a resident of Sarita Vihar, said: “I regularly commute from Jasola Vihar to my office in Arjangarh for which I pay ₹30. The commute from home to Metro station and from the Metro station to office in an auto costs around ₹150.”
“For the same journey I will now have to spend more than ₹200 as maximum fare has been increased from ₹30 to ₹50. I might now switch to car as the cost difference would not be much,” he said.
Several people living in areas such as Vasant Kunj, Model Town, RK Puram, and Vasundhara Enclave said they would not mind paying extra if the Metro would have also addressed the issues such as lastmile connectivity, better integration with buses and women safety, especially during late night hours.
Swati Juneja, who lives in Vasundhara Enclave, said, “I do not have any problem in paying the increased price but the Metro authorities should provide feeder bus service in the area.”
Several people, especially in South Delhi colonies such as Malviya Nagar, Green Park and Katwaria Sarai said that metro feeder bus service does not operate after 8pm as it does not fetch desirable returns for operators.
Katwaria Sarai resident, Divya Sansanwal, said, “Erratic schedule of DTC buses and fleecing auto-rickshaws who charge exorbitantly during night hours makes the situation worse.”