Despite strong opposition from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, metro fare hike came into effect today. The Aam Aadmi Party government had offered to pay half of Rs 3,000 crore, the funds annually needed to meet the gap in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's finances, an offer rejected by the Union government. While the Congress has blamed both the Centre and Delhi government, the AAP has accused BJP for the “anti-people” policy.
Irrespective of the politics playing out over the proposal, the public will have to shell out more from its pocket for a ride in the metro.
This is the second hike in metro fare within six months. After the hike that came into effect on May 10, the new minimum fare was increased to Rs 10, up from Rs 8, while the maximum was Rs 50.
Here is how the latest metro fare hike will affect you:
* The fare for a metro ride up to two kilometres has not been changed and will remain at Rs 10.
* The fare hike will affect every commuter who travels beyond 5 km.
* A journey of 2 to 5 km will now cost Rs 20, up from Rs15.
* From today onwards, a ride on Delhi metro will cost you Rs 30 if you travel anywhere between 5 to 12 km. This was Rs 20 after the hike in May.
* A journey from 12 to 21 km will now cost you Rs 40, up from earlier fare of Rs 30.
* If you travel on the metro for a distance between 21 to 32 km, you will have to shell out Rs 50. This fare was Rs 40 before the latest hike that came into effect today.
* The maximum fare - for journeys beyond 32 km - the riders will have to pay Rs 60. Earlier, the maximum fare in Delhi metro was Rs 50.
* When the Delhi Metro had started operations on December 25, 2002, the minimum fare was Rs 4 and maximum was Rs 8.
* The metro fare hike is expected to bring down the number of riders as the increase in May did.
* The average daily ridership of the metro in June, 2017 was 25.7 lakh, down from 27.2 lakh in the same month last year.
