Passengers unhappy with Metro fare hike proposal, say move would hit hard

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro commuters are unhappy with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) proposal to hike fares.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro commuters are unhappy with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) proposal to hike fares.

HT Image

At present, Metro has fare slabs between Rs 8 and Rs 30 and it is likely to increase to Rs 10 to Rs 70. There are chances the minimum fare could be fixed at Rs 15.

The chairman of the fare fixation committee has invited suggestions from Metro users and other stakeholders after which the committee will submit its report.

“The middle class would be badly affected with the proposed fare hike. The inflation in eatables and fuel price hike has already been so problematic for us. Metro should have been the last target. If the Metro gets costlier, it would certainly lead to agitation,” said Nidhi, 24, a daily Metro commuter who works with a consultancy firm and travels from Dwarka to Barakhamba.

The Delhi chief secretary and additional secretary in the ministry of urban development (MoUD) are part of the committee headed byjusticeMLMehta, retiredjudge of the Delhi high court.

Some women commuters feel Metro is the safest mode of public transport and the steep fare hike could force them to switch to other modes of transport.

“The increased fare hike would certainly affect the women passengers who feel safe in the Metro. There should be a gradual hike and not so much at one go as it would affect so many people,” said Nishtha, 22, a student who commutes from Kaushambi to Botanical Garden every day.

The fare was last hiked in 2009. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation says it will run into losses if the fare is not revised.

College students feel the fares of any public transport system should be within the reach of the common man.

“Being a college student, Metro is certainly an attractive and affordable transport for me. If there is an increase in fares, it would be an exclusionary policy, making it really difficult for people to commute,” said Apurav Maggu, a student from JNU.

“People who ear n less, I believe will feel the pinch of this fare hike the most. If you calculate,the gross monthly expenditure would come out to be Rs 450 as opposed to Rs 240 earlier. It is always the poor who have to bear the brunt of such hikes,” said Sonal Singh, 21, a student who commutes from Karkardooma to Noida City Centre daily.