Delhi Metro 'second-most unaffordable' transport network in world: CSE

Delhi Metro that faced flak from the commuters and the Kejriwal government over fare rise last year, is the world’s second most expensive mass rapid transit system, says a report by the Centre for Science and Environment.

CSE did an analysis of what it takes to keep public transport and overall journey costs affordable for all city dwellers while modernising the systems. This is needed to ensure that new investments in modern systems – be it the Metro, or bus rapid transit systems, or modern and electric buses – can lead to an effective shift in ridership from personal vehicles to public transport in all Indian cities.

Delhi Metro saw a sudden drop in ridership following the fare hike (in May and October 2017) – approximately by 420,000 passengers by 2018, the report said.

Even though the report said that there was no absolute threshold to define affordability of public transport but internationally it is generally accepted that about 10-15 per cent of household income can be spent on transport as the upper cap for a system to be accepted as affordable.

Delhi Metro revises fares after 8 years; maximum charge at Rs 50

Biting the bullet on fare revision, Delhi Metro today announced upward revision of its tariffs starting Wednesday, with the base fare being increased to Rs 10 from Rs 8. Last fare revision of metro fares was in 2009.

The current revision would be done in two phases - May 10 and October 1, 2017.

"There will be a total of six fare slabs as against the existing 15 fare slabs with a minimum fare of Rs 10 and a maximum fare of Rs 50 in Phase I," Delhi Metro said in a press release.

The minimum fare would remain the same but the maximum fare would go up to Rs 60 from October 1.

The fare revision has been recommended by the 4th Fare Fixation Committee as per the provisions of Delhi Metro Rail (Operation & Maintenance) Act, 2002. The 4th FFC was set up after almost 7 years.

The panel is a three member committee chaired by an existing and/or a retired judge of High Court and one representative each at the level of Additional Secretary from the Central Government and the State Government.

"The necessity of revision in fares was on account of increase in the cost of inputs -- staff costs, the cost of energy and the cost of repair & maintenance," the DMRC statement said.

It said, there has been increase in the rate of industrial DA (dearness allowance) by 95.5%, rate of Central DA by 103% and average increase in the rate of minimum wages by 156.2%.

With a view to encourage ridership on Sundays and National Holidays special discounted fares have been approved.
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