‘Unjustified’ second Metro fare hike a violation of law, says govt

In case the DMRC insists on imposing its unjustified decision of the steep second fare hike this year, it will be a gross violation of the law by which Delhi Metro came into existence.

THE DELHI GOVERNMENT

NEWDELHI: The Arvind Kejriwalled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Monday said the ‘unjustified’ planned second hike in a year by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was ‘gross violation of the law’ that governed the eco-friendly means of transport.

“In case the DMRC insists on imposing its unjustified decision of the steep second fare hike this year, it will be a gross violation of the law by which Delhi Metro came into existence,” the Delhi government said in a statement, referring to the fare fixation committee recommendations that states “there shall be a gap of one year between two fare hikes.”

The committee, which has one Delhi government and one Union government members, recommends Metro fare hikes.

“Section 37 of the Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, states the ‘recommendations to be binding on metro railway administration. The recommendations made by the fare fixation committee shall be binding on the metro railway administration,” the statement said, while appealing to the Centre “to put on hold any fare hike”.

After increasing the minimum fare from ₹8 to ₹10 and the maximum from ₹30 to ₹50 in May this year, DMRC has decided to increase the maximum fare from the existing ₹50 to ₹60 on October 10.

“...the DMRC needs to answer how the committee’s recommendation has been violated by the Delhi Metro,” the statement said adding that Delhi government had never before interfered in the DMRC’S functioning.

The DMRC officials refused to comment on the allegations made by the Delhi government.

Earlier, senior party leader, Ashutosh said the fare hike would discourage commuters from using eco-friendly Metro services. He said the Delhi Metro ridership had decreased after the hike in fares in May.

“Making the Metro travel costly would defeat the purpose of providing cheap and ecofriendly transport for residents,” he said.

The party has decided to start an agitation against Delhi Metro authorities if there was no rollback. “A delegation of AAP MLAS will call on DMRC officials on Tuesday. We hope the decision would be withdrawn,” he said.

Amid the war of words, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had termed the proposed increase in fares as “anti-people” while DMRC insisting that the hike was a “binding”.