Panel must review Centre, Delhi control over DMRC, says CM Kejriwal

New Delhi: An expert committee should review the “nature and extent of control exercised by the Central and Delhi governments over the functioning of DMRC”, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told the Central government on Tuesday. Mr Kejriwal was replying to a letter by Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, in which Mr Puri had agreed to set up an expert committee to look into the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The letter comes close on the heels of the city metro fare hike on October 10, the second increase this year, despite strong opposition from the Delhi government.

The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the Central and the state government. “I’m glad that you have agreed to set up an expert committee as suggested in your October 12 letter,” Mr Kejriwal said in the letter dated Tuesday. “As far as the terms of reference are concerned, the committee should be asked to examine and make recommendations relating to the organisation, management, control and accountability of the DMRC,” he said. 

The chief minister said the Central government can recommend one or two members for the committee and the Delhi government will recommend an equal number. “The committee members can then choose an eminent and independent person to be the chairman of the committee,” he said.