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Delhi Metro hikes fares, political parties spar while commuters suffer

Published

8 years ago

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Delhi Metro

[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]

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Manipur Assembly to meet at 4 pm today, floor test likely under new chief minister

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The Manipur Legislative Assembly will convene at 4 pm on Thursday in Imphal, a day after Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the chief minister. A floor test is likely to be held on the first day of the session to establish the majority of the newly formed government.

In the 60-member Assembly, the BJP holds 37 seats, while its ally National People’s Party has six members, giving the ruling combine a clear majority in the House.

Singh chaired the first Cabinet meeting of his government late Wednesday evening, shortly after taking oath as the 13th chief minister of Manipur. The meeting marked the formal start of administrative functioning under the new Council of Ministers.

His appointment came nearly a year after the resignation of former chief minister N Biren Singh, who stepped down following months of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state.

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The sixth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was last held from July 31 to August 12, 2024.

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PM Modi skips Lok Sabha reply as protests force repeated adjournments

PM Modi did not deliver his Lok Sabha reply today after sustained Opposition protests led to repeated adjournments over a dispute involving Rahul Gandhi’s proposed speech.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not deliver his scheduled reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha today after sustained Opposition protests led to multiple adjournments of the House.

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The controversy intensified when Nishikant Dubey responded to Rahul Gandhi’s demand to speak on national security and references to the unpublished memoirs of former Army chief General MM Naravane. Dubey said that while Gandhi wanted to quote from an unpublished book, he himself had brought several books that, according to him, made claims about the Gandhi family.

As Dubey began listing these books and their contents, strong protests erupted from Opposition members. Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the House at the time, cited Rule 349, which restricts members from reading out books, newspapers, or letters unless directly related to parliamentary business. Despite repeated warnings, the matter remained unresolved, leading to another adjournment.

Rahul Gandhi accuses government of silencing debate

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was being prevented from speaking on an issue of national importance. He claimed the government was uncomfortable with references to General Naravane’s memoirs, which he said discussed the handling of the 2020 China border crisis.

In a social media post, Gandhi said he intended to present the Prime Minister with a book authored by the former Army chief, adding that some cabinet ministers had even questioned the existence of the book. He also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the suspension of eight Opposition MPs, alleging that parliamentary debate was being curtailed.

After it became clear that the Prime Minister would not speak in the House today, Gandhi posted that PM Modi had avoided Parliament because he was “scared” to face the truth. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the allegation, claiming the Prime Minister was unwilling to enter the House.

Proceedings disrupted throughout the day

Lok Sabha proceedings were first adjourned until 2 pm amid loud protests over the issue linked to Naravane’s memoirs. Even after the House reconvened, disruptions continued, preventing normal business from resuming.

Later, Congress MPs staged a demonstration outside the Parliament complex, demanding that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak on the President’s address.

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President’s Rule revoked in Manipur as NDA set to form new government

President’s Rule has been withdrawn in Manipur nearly a year after its imposition, paving the way for a new NDA-led government under Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

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February 4, 2026

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President rule invoked in Manipur

President’s Rule has been revoked in Manipur nearly a year after it was imposed, clearing the way for the formation of a new government led by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The decision came hours before the scheduled oath ceremony of the new council of ministers.

Chief minister-designate Yumnam Khemchand Singh is set to take oath later this evening, along with other NDA legislators who will formally join the new government. The revocation brings an end to central rule that had been in place since February 2025, following the resignation of then chief minister N Biren Singh.

Assembly status during central rule

During the period of President’s Rule, the Manipur Legislative Assembly remained in suspended animation, meaning it was neither functioning nor dissolved. With the restoration of the elected government, legislative activity is expected to resume.

Khemchand Singh, 61, belongs to the Meitei community. Two deputy chief ministers have been named to reflect Manipur’s ethnic diversity. Nemcha Kipgen, from the Kuki community, and Losii Dikho, from the Naga community, are set to take charge as deputy chief ministers.

According to people with direct knowledge of the matter, Nemcha Kipgen is likely to take oath from a Manipur government guesthouse in Delhi.

Key portfolios and leadership choices

Seven-time MLA from Bishnupur district, Govindas Konthoujam, said he has been entrusted with the Home portfolio. Emphasising stability and law and order, he said he remains committed to serving the state with discipline and restraint.

Sources said Khemchand Singh is viewed within the party as a non-polarising leader who is acceptable across internal factions at a time of political transition. While he is yet to be tested in governance, he is seen as a steady administrative choice capable of providing organisational discipline and continuity amid uncertainty.

Uneasy peace continues in Manipur

The formation of the new government comes against the backdrop of continued tension in Manipur, nearly three years after violence erupted between the Meitei community in the valley areas and the Kuki tribes in several hill districts.

A section of Kuki groups has been demanding a separate administrative arrangement, with negotiations involving multiple insurgent groups operating under two umbrella organisations that are signatories to the suspension of operations agreement.

In recent weeks, some Kuki civil society organisations have stated they would not participate in the Manipur government and have distanced themselves from Kuki MLAs expected to join the new administration.

A day before the announcement of the new government, Kuki leader Paolienlal Haokip posted on X that representatives of the Kuki Zo people could not take part in leadership selection without justice and a written commitment for political settlement.

Diverging demands from communities

Meitei civil society groups have maintained that all internally displaced persons should be allowed to return home safely, even as dialogue continues. However, Kuki leaders have insisted that a political solution in the form of a separate administration must come first, before discussions on rehabilitation and return from relief camps.

Meitei leaders have countered this position, arguing that the demand reflects an ethnocentric territorial claim and that humanitarian issues should be addressed alongside negotiations, as no area is exclusively inhabited by a single community.

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