Kejriwal writes to Chief Secy, asks him to examine Metro fare hike

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretary to examine the issues regarding the steep hike in Delhi Metro fares.

The Chief Minister has asked the top bureaucrat how far the hike in Metro fare is justified, and could it have been avoided.

In his letter to Chief Secretary M M Kutty, Kejriwal expressed anguish, saying that the hike could not have come at a worse time, when the economy is in recession, medium and small scale business are facing losses and unemployment is soaring high in Delhi.

"Being an equal partner in DMRC, the Delhi government is deeply concerned with the said hike and its impact on the common man," read the letter.

The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary about the efficiency and optimum capacity of Metro operation, "Some of these issues have also been flagged by the fourth Fare Fixation Committee constituted by the Central government under the Delhi Metro Act," wrote Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the student political wing of Aam Aadmi Party, staged a protest outside the busy Rajiv Chowk Metro station on Wednesday against the Metro fare hike.

About 30 students from the Delhi University unit of CYSS gathered at Gate no 6 of the station and demanded a rollback of the fare hike.

"What made them increase the fare twice in the same year when there was no hike for eight years? Why didn't Delhi Metro speak about losses all those years," questioned Anmol, a CYSS member.

In another related development, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, along with a delegation of party leaders, met Union Housing and Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri and discussed the Metro fare hike with him.

Tiwari told media persons that apart from seeking relief for students and others commuters, he discussed the new fare rates – especially for the slabs of five to 12 kilometres – with Puri.