‘Future hike in Metro fares unlikely’

New Delhi: In a huge respite to lakhs of commuters, the Delhi Metro fare is unlikely to witness another round of revision until 2020. Apart from this, the students and senior citizens are likely to enjoy concessional fares soon while travelling by the Delhi Metro.

On Monday, while citing improved ridership, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri hinted that another hike in the Delhi Metro fares was unlikely, even as he favoured concessions for senior citizens and students.   

“The (Metro) ridership has gone up to 28 lakh in the past 20 days and I believe it could go up to 45 lakh, although the conservative estimate of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director puts it at 39 lakh,” he said.

The housing and urban affairs minister was spe-aking to reporters after the inauguration of the Durgabai Deshmukh So-uth Campus-Lajpat Nagar section of the Pink Line.

The Metro fares had almost doubled after two phased hikes in May and October last year, following recommendations of the fourth fare fixation committee, which comprises representatives from the Centre and the Delhi government.

Mr Puri noted that if the revenue situation remained good, there was no question of recommending an increase in the fares. He also underlined the need to bring technology based solutions to provide “respite” to senior citizens and students availing the Metro rail services.

The Union minister, who was accompanied by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, said solutions to problems like delayed Phase IV would be found in a cooperative manner.

He added it was the duty of both the Centre and the Delhi government to support DMRC in its expansion plans.

In reply to a question over Mr Kejriwal’s recent letter asking the ministry of housing and urban affairs to bear Delhi’s share of cost of rapid transit project due to inadequate finances, the minister said the two sides appreciated ground realities.

The 8.1 km-long stretch, which is a part of the Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar line, has six stations and two interchange stations at INA (Yellow Line) and Lajpat Nagar (Violet Line).

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