3-member body set up to revise Metro fares

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has reportedly approved a three-member fare fixation committee to decide on the revision of Delhi Metro fares. Former judge of the Delhi high court, Justice M.L. Mehta, is the chairman of the committee that includes Delhi chief secretary K.K. Sharma and Union urban development ministry additional secretary Durga Shanker Mishra. The panel is expected to submit its report within three months. A formal notification to this effect would be issued within a day or two. The committee, however, will not recommend fare structure for the Airport Express Line. The Metro fares were last revised in 2009.

A source said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for appointment of Justice Mehta as chairman of the 4th fare fixation committee in the Delhi Metro. The Delhi Metro had requested the Centre to constitute a fare fixation committee to recommend fare hikes for the Delhi Metro network.

According to official data, the DMRC registered a net loss, after paying taxes, of Rs 275.46 crore in 2014-15, an increase of 353 per cent from Rs 60.74 crore in 2013-14. The net loss was to the tune of Rs 7.94 crore in 2012-13. Justice Mehta was sworn in as an additional judge of the Delhi high court on December 3, 2010. He retired on December 30, 2013.

As per rules, the Central government needs to constitute a fare committee for the purpose of recommending Metro fare hike. The committee consists of a chairperson and two other members — one each nominated by the Central and Delhi governments. The panel is mandated to submit its report within a maximum of three months or before as defined by its terms of reference. The recommendations of the committee are binding on the Delhi Metro. DMRC chief Mangu Singh had recently hinted that it was time for a fare hike as the current charges did not reflect the increase in costs of operation.