India News

Delhi Metro hikes fares, political parties spar while commuters suffer

Published

9 years ago

October 10, 2017

[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]

Related Topics:Arvind Kejriwal Delhi India

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Yogi Adityanath takes a dig at Akhilesh Yadav over Ram Temple visit plan

Yogi Adityanath’s remarks came after the Samajwadi Party announced that Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday took an apparent swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his planned visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying those who had fired on Ram devotees should first apologise to them and to the saints.

Yogi made the remarks while addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya. He did not name Akhilesh Yadav directly.

Yogi’s remarks come after Akhilesh’s Ayodhya visit plan

The chief minister’s comments came after the Samajwadi Party announced that Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12. It would be his first visit to the temple since its inauguration, according to the report.

Yogi said those who had earlier neglected and insulted Ayodhya, opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge should come to the city only after seeking forgiveness.

“Let them apologise to the devotees of Lord Ram; let them apologise to the saints,” Yogi said, adding that they should repent for their past actions.

Reference to 1990 firing on kar sevaks

Yogi’s remarks referred to the 1990 police firing on kar sevaks during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. At the time, the Uttar Pradesh government was headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s father.

The chief minister said those who had once “bloodied” Ayodhya were now remembering the city. He also criticised political leaders over their conduct at religious gatherings, referring to the decorum of a katha.

Akhilesh has not yet visited the Ram Temple

Akhilesh Yadav has visited Ayodhya earlier but has not so far visited the Ram Temple. The SP leader was in the city on October 8 to attend a Bhagwat Katha organised by party leader Pawan Pandey.

According to the report, Akhilesh and his wife, Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav, are scheduled to offer prayers at the Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi on December 12.

The planned visit comes amid political activity in Ayodhya ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due by February 2027.

Yogi highlights Ayodhya’s transformation

During his Deepotsav address, Yogi also spoke about the changes in Ayodhya and described the city’s transformation as an ideological victory.

He said those who had previously neglected Ayodhya were now witnessing its development. He also said Lord Ram represented India’s national consciousness, culture, values and self-respect.

The chief minister further recalled the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and said Ayodhya had regained the glory for which kar sevaks and saints had struggled.

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Ahead of Diwali, Yogi govt hikes DA by 5% for UP government staff

The Uttar Pradesh government has increased Dearness Allowance by 5 percentage points, taking it from 58% to 63%. The revised rate will benefit lakhs of eligible employees ahead of Diwali.

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November 7, 2026

APNLive Desk

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 5 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees ahead of Diwali. With this revision, the DA rate has increased from 58 per cent to 63 per cent, providing financial relief to lakhs of eligible employees across the state.

The revised allowance will be effective from July 1, 2026, according to the government announcement. A government order was also issued on Saturday, November 7.

The enhanced DA will be paid along with employees’ regular November 2026 salaries.

Which employees will benefit from the DA hike?

The decision covers regular state government employees and several other categories of eligible staff.

These include employees of aided educational and technical institutions, regular and full-time employees of urban local bodies, work-charged employees and personnel drawing salaries under University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales.

The revision is expected to benefit a large section of the Uttar Pradesh workforce ahead of the festive season.

What happens to the DA arrears?

The revised DA rate will apply retrospectively from July 1, 2026. Consequently, employees will also be entitled to arrears for the period preceding the November salary payment.

The government has made provisions for the payment of the arrears for July to October 2026. These amounts will be credited to employees’ provident fund accounts, according to the reported payment arrangements.

The enhanced allowance for November will be reflected in the regular salary for that month.

The decision comes ahead of Diwali and will provide additional financial relief to eligible government employees in Uttar Pradesh.

India News

Himanta Sarma to approach court over threat to gherao home in Zubeen case

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government would approach the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court over a threat to gherao his residence if two prime accused in the Zubeen Garg death case are granted bail.

Published

15 hours ago

November 7, 2026

APNLive Desk

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state government would bring before the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court a threat by a group to gherao his residence in connection with the Zubeen Garg death case.

Speaking to reporters, Sarma described the threat as a serious matter, saying it posed a danger to his family and could amount to a direct attempt to murder.

The development comes ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on November 30 of the bail petitions filed by Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma, the two prime accused in the case.

Why Himanta Sarma plans to approach the courts

Sarma said he had instructed the state government’s legal department to bring the matter to the notice of both the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court.

The Chief Minister objected to the group threatening to target his residence rather than holding a protest near the Chief Minister’s Office.

He said those questioning the judicial process should approach the Supreme Court or the high court instead of targeting him. Sarma also maintained that the courts should be allowed to carry out their work.

According to him, attempts to question the judicial process in this manner could obstruct the path of justice.

What the group said about the bail pleas

The Zubeen Garg Nyay Samiti, led by Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi, had announced on Thursday that it would gherao the Chief Minister’s residence under certain circumstances.

The group said it would carry out the protest if Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma were granted bail or if the Assam government failed to mount an effective legal opposition to their bail pleas.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the bail petitions of the two accused on November 30.

Bail granted to two accused in the case

The Gauhati High Court granted bail to singer Amritprava Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, on October 9. She was granted bail against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount.

The high court has also granted bail to Sandipan Garg in the case.

Referring to the bail order concerning Amritprava Mahanta, Sarma said it mentioned that 160 witnesses had not named her during the court hearing, despite having done so during the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Responding to questions over the development, Sarma said the witnesses should be questioned about the discrepancy rather than him.

What happened to Zubeen Garg?

Singer Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea.

Police in Singapore had said that no foul play was involved in his death. Garg had travelled to Singapore to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF).