[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to launch Metro Fare Satyagraha from Wednesday, Congress launches Save Metro campaign, ABVP protests against hike

After a month of confrontations between the Delhi and Union governments over the proposed hike in metro fares, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) implemented the recommended hike, on Tuesday, leaving commuters worried over the steep increase – the second in five months – as political parties got into a war of words.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1507638846474{border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #b2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]The fares applicable from now on will be:

Up to 2 km — Rs 10,

2 to 5 km — Rs 20

5 to 12 km — Rs 30

12 to 21 km — Rs 40

21 to 32 km —Rs 50

For journeys beyond 32 km — Rs 60

Smart card users, who, according to DMRC’s estimates, happen to be 70 per cent of the metro’s total ridership, will continue to get 10 per cent discount on each ride. They will get an additional discount of 10 per cent while travelling during off-peak hours that is from beginning of services till 8 am, between 12 pm and 5 pm and from 9 pm to end of the services.

When the Delhi Metro had started operations on December 25, 2002, the minimum fare was Rs 4 and maximum was Rs 8.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The hike has effectively doubled the fare within six months.

The announcement was made on Monday night after a meeting of the Metro’s top decision-making body, the DMRC board, in which it was concluded that the board had no power to change the recommendations of the fare fixation committee. The meeting was called in response to resolution passed by the Aam Aadmi Party-dominated Delhi Assembly against the hike.

The fare hike implemented, on Tuesday, expectedly met with heavy criticism from commuters as well as Opposition leaders while the ruling AAP in Delhi announced that it would launch a Metro Fare Satyagraha from Wednesday.

The AAP government, including chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia sought to blame the Centre for the steep hike and claimed that the increase in Metro fares was a “conspiracy” by the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help cab aggregator services like Uber and Ola make a killing.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Delhi Metro Commuters’ Association (DMCA) has also opposed the move and called for boycott of metro services.

“The decision will affect the common people here, who are already reeling under inflation. The argument of the Urban Development Ministry and the DMRC citing losses are utterly false as fares are already very high. Moreover, almost all metro trains are jam-packed, thereby adding to profits,” DMCA convener Sachin S. Bhandari told media persons.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Assembly Speaker is set to nominate nine MLAs to a committee that will study the Centre and DMRC board’s rationale behind the fare hike and possibly suggest ways in which the state government can confront the Modi government on the issue and ease the financial burden that the hike will cause to commuters.

The metro fare hike has given the Congress party, which is struggling for its political survival in the national capital which it ruled for 15 years before being pushed into wilderness by the Kejriwal wave, much-needed ammunition to target both AAP and BJP.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken said that the fare hike and the resultant trouble caused to lakhs of Metro commuters was the result of the ongoing tussle between the Kejriwal-led Delhi government and Narendra Modi-led Union government. Maken said that his party has launched a ‘Save Delhi Save Metro’ campaign and would organise various agitations, sit-ins, etc. to protest against the fare hike.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Meanwhile, the BJP’s student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) too protested against the Metro fare hike that has been implemented as a result of the recommendations of the Centre.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Centre and the Delhi government were locked in a confrontation ever since the DMRC proposed the hike in September.

On Sunday, Arvind Kejriwal had said that the Delhi government was ready to provide half the funds needed to meet the gap in the metro’s finances for three months if it was allowed to take over its operations.

The Delhi chief minister’s statement was in response to Union urban development minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s demand of Rs 3,000 crore annually from the Delhi government in order cancel the proposed hike.

While political leaders indulged in the shrill war of words over the metro hike, with the AAP and BJP both blaming each other and the Congress blaming them both for the decision, it was as always the commuters who were left helpless.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]