Increase fares or face losses: Delhi Metro chief
Fare-fixation committee had earlier proposed 66 per cent hike in ticket prices.
New Delhi: The Delhi Metro’s finances will be hit if its fares, last increased in 2009, are not revised, DMRC chief Mangu Singh has said.
Pitching for early implementation of the fare-fixation committee’s recommendations, Mr Singh said, “As far as finances are concerned, till now it is being managed, but yes it will affect in future if fares are not increased.”
The committee, in its final report submitted in September, had proposed an increase of up to 66 per cent in ticket prices.
On being asked whether managing a system as large and complex as the Delhi Metro was sustainable in the long run without raising fares, Mr Singh said there was no doubt that fares needed to be revised periodically.
“Otherwise, you cannot sustain because the costs of input will go on rising,” he said. Asked if a tough stand was required on his part to negotiate the politics over raising ticket prices, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) chief said the process was already on and the metro’s suggestions have also been factored into.
“There is no need of any hard talk. The process is on. The recommendations of the fare revision committee need to be implemented. We hope it happens,” he said.
The panel has recommended the lowest fare of Delhi Metro to be increased to Rs 10 from Rs 8, and the maximum fare to Rs 50 from Rs 30 at present.
The Delhi government had recently approved five-year extension to Mr Singh, who had taken over as DMRC Managing Director in 2012.
The decision, however, will be put before the Urban development ministry as the ministry and the Delhi government have 50-50 partnership in the DMRC.