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Delhi metro second most unaffordable in the world: CSE study

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Delhi Metro

Delhi metro, whose fares were nearly doubled last year, is the second most unaffordable transport network in the world after Hanoi in Vietnam, said a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

After the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) hiked tariff twice last year, in May and October, metro fares nearly doubled: the maximum went up from Rs.30 to Rs.50 and then to Rs.60.

As a consequence, the CSE study shows, the Delhi Metro has received nearly 32 percent less, or a drop of approximately 4.2 lakh passengers, this year than the number of daily passengers it had hoped to serve.

While the average daily ridership projections made by DMRC in 2016 stood at around 40 lakh for this year, it has been only around 27 lakh — 31.66 percent less than the projections, the study said.

This, say CSE experts, “is symptomatic of the lack of overall policy for pricing of all transport services and a lack of strategy for funding of these systems and increasing ridership.”

The fare hikes have rendered Delhi metro unaffordable for the common masses. A middle-income commuter of the Delhi Metro on an average spends 19.5% of her income on travel, the CSE data showed. Experts from the organisation said a commuter should not have to spend more than 15% of the income on any mode of transport.

In case of the economically weaker sections, this percentage share increases to 22% of their income.

Affordability is defined as the percentage of commuters’ total income spent on travel.

The calculations, based on the fourth Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report for the Delhi Metro, showed that 30% of Delhi’s commuters are within the monthly group of Rs 20,000.

Gautam Patel, principal consultant (coordinates), Ahmedabad, and Gaurav Dubey, Programme Manager at Clean Air and Sustainable Mobility at CSE, said that no transit system should ask its users to spend more than 15% of their earnings on their services. In case of lower income groups, the share should not be over 10%, he said.

For example, an unskilled labourer in Delhi earning a minimum daily wage of Rs 534 on an average spends Rs 80 (15%) out of her income on transport. As per CSE’s calculations, she would spend around 8% of her income if she travels in a non air-conditioned public bus, 14% in an air-conditioned bus, and 22% travelling in Delhi Metro.

“There is no doubt that the quality of services provided by the Delhi Metro is good but the fares need to be kept in mind too,” Patel said.

Varsha Joshi, Delhi’s transport commissioner, said the fare hikes were needed to improve the quality of a transport network. However, these need to be introduced gradually.

“The question is, how much fare is affordable for a particular quality if ride. Indexing of fares is a possibility, where fares can be incrementally increased indexed to inflation,” Joshi said.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) defended these fare revisions, saying these were revised after a gap of nine years, during which there was an increase of almost 90% in power tariffs and other input costs.

“The fares were revised by an independent FFC through a well-defined mechanism and not by the DMRC itself,” said Anuj Dayal, executive director (corporate communications), DMRC.

Dayal said this year the Metro has already expanded its network by more than 60km and will have a network of 350km in the coming months.

“The Delhi Metro is providing an eco-friendly and convenient travel option and periodic fare revisions are imperative to sustain such infrastructure projects in the long run,” he said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, last year, termed the fare hike “too steep”. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called the metro fare hike a “conspiracy” to benefit private cab aggregator services like Uber and Ola.

Before the hike, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had told the Delhi government that it would need to pay Rs. 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike.

Kejriwal responded that his 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 operation. This was turned down by Puri who wrote back: “While I appreciate your confidence, enthusiasm and keenness to take on more responsibility, I am constrained to point out that this again is also not in line with existing policy.”

When Delhi Metro started operating in 2002, the minimum fare was Rs. 4 and maximum was Rs. 8.

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From Pushpa reels to a Tollywood deal, David Warner bags crores for 3 minutes role in Robinhood

David Warner just made the most expensive cameo in Telugu cinema—Rs 2.5 crore for less than 3 minutes in Robinhood. That’s not a role, that’s a retirement plan.

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The Australian cricketer David Warner, known for his explosive batting and dancing moves on Pusha song, has officially stepped into the acting world with a cameo in the Telugu film Robinhood. However, the cricketer’s acting dubute is not a big news at all but his paycheck is making bigger headlines than the film itself.

In the Telugu action film Robinhood, starring Nithiin and Sreeleela, Warner made a guest appearance for which the cricketer charged a staggering Rs 2.5 crore for a 2-minute-50-second cameo. That’s right—less than three minutes of screen time, and he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

That’s around Rs 14 lakh per second, or what most of us make in, well… a decade.

Warner shot his scene over just 2 days, at a reported Rs 1.25 crore per day. It’s unclear if he had any lines or just gave his trademark grin and left, but clearly, he bowled Tollywood over without even lifting a bat.

The film, directed by Venky Kudumula, released on March 28 and has been getting solid reviews. But let’s be honest—Warner’s cameo is grabbing more headlines than the villain’s plot.

Also featuring Vennela Kishore, Rajendra Prasad, and others, Robinhood tells the story of an orphaned Robin Hood-type hero… and somewhere in there, Warner pops in, waves hello (we assume), and probably left for biryani before the credits rolled.

Fans are loving it. Accountants are weeping. And Warner? He’s now officially Tollywood’s highest-paid cameo artist.

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Bengaluru man kills wife, stuffs her in suitcase

Investigations reveal a history of frequent arguments between Rakesh and Gauri, with allegations of physical altercations on both sides.

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Bengaluru Police have arrested a man, Rakesh, who is accused of murdering his wife, Gauri Anil Sambekar, and concealing her body in a suitcase before fleeing to Pune. The police tracked him down using call detail records (CDR), leading Satara police to take him into custody.

Reports indicate that Rakesh ingested a poison-like substance and admitted to committing the crime, prompting his immediate hospitalization, where he is currently receiving treatment.

The disturbing details of the crime emerged when Rakesh allegedly called his wife’s parents to confess. Gauri, 32, was a mass media and communication graduate who had been unemployed and staying home while Rakesh worked as a project manager for Hitachi. The couple had moved from Maharashtra to Doddakannahalli in Bengaluru, living there for about two months.

Investigations reveal a history of frequent arguments between Rakesh and Gauri, with allegations of physical altercations on both sides. The conflict reached a tragic climax on March 26 when Rakesh allegedly stabbed Gauri multiple times and ultimately slit her throat. He then concealed her body in the suitcase and left it in the bathroom before making his escape.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Sarah Fathima stated that the investigation began after a call was made at approximately 5:30 PM concerning a suspected hanging. Upon arriving at the locked residence, officers discovered the suitcase in the bathroom, which led them to realize a crime had occurred. The forensic team opened the suitcase and found Gauri’s body, which bore numerous injuries.

Efforts to locate Rakesh initially were unsuccessful, but law enforcement was able to track him through CDR data. Pune police were notified, resulting in his arrest. A team from Hulimavu police is en route to Pune to bring Rakesh back to Bengaluru for further questioning.

DCP Fathima noted that Gauri’s body was found intact, and the specifics of her injuries will be detailed in the forthcoming postmortem report. The investigation continues as authorities strive to uncover more information and clarify the motivations behind this tragic incident.

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Madras HC grants interim anticipatory bail to Kunal Kamra

His petition expressed apprehension about being arrested by the Mumbai Police, which had summoned him twice in connection with the case.

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The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who faces potential arrest over jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance in Mumbai.

Kamra, 36, had sought relief from the court, stating that he relocated from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu in 2021 and has since been a resident of the state. His petition expressed apprehension about being arrested by the Mumbai Police, which had summoned him twice in connection with the case.

The controversy arose after Kamra’s show at Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed a satirical song parodying Shinde. The act drew sharp criticism from Shiv Sena supporters, leading to violent protests. A group of party workers vandalized the comedy club and the adjoining hotel, prompting police action.

Following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar Police registered a case against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory statements against the deputy CM. Mumbai Police issued a second summons, directing the comedian to appear before them on March 31.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested 12 Shiv Sainiks, including leader Rahool Kanal, for the destruction of property at the venue.

Kamra, known for his sharp political satire, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, lashing out at mainstream media. He wrote: “The mainstream media at this point is nothing but a miscommunication arm of the ruling party. They are vultures who report on issues that don’t matter to the people of this country. If they all shut shop from tomorrow till eternity, they will be doing a favor to the country, its people & their own children.”

The Madras High Court’s decision to grant interim bail provides temporary protection to Kamra from arrest, allowing the legal process to proceed without immediate detention. The case has reignited debates on free speech, political satire, and the limits of comedy in India, where comedians frequently face legal challenges for their content.

This incident is not Kamra’s first brush with controversy—his past remarks on politicians and media figures have often sparked outrage. 

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