Rides in AC not so cheap now

If you are travelling beyond 5 km by the Delhi Metro from Tuesday, Oct. 10^th be prepared to pay ₹10 extra with the recent fare hike coming into effect. The hike comes within five months of the last one. It will affect every passenger of the Delhi Metro who travels beyond 5 km. While journeys falling in the 2 to 5 km distance slab will only cost ₹5 more.

The Delhi Metro had started operations on December 25, 2002, the minimum fare at that time was ₹ 4 and maximum was ₹ 8.

The revised fare structure now on is: up to 2 km ₹10, 2 to 5 km ₹20, 5 to 12 km ₹30, 12 to 21 km ₹40, 21 to 32 km ₹50 and for journeys beyond 32 km ₹60. Smart card users, who happen to be 70 per cent of the metro’s total commuters, will continue to get 10 per cent discount on each ride. They will get an additional discount worth 10 per cent while travelling during off-peak hours. Off-peaks hours are from beginning of services till 8 am, between 12 pm to 5 pm and from 9 pm to end of the services.

The price hike came late on Monday night in the face of stiff opposition mounted by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal against the fare hike. The Delhi Assembly passed a resolution against the hike earlier in the day. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia termed the decision as a “conspiracy” which benefits private cab services. The DMRC had been batting for a hike for quite a time, citing “losses” in view of loans and rise in input costs of operation, such as power tariff among others.

The new fares would be applicable on five corridors — Blue, Yellow, Green, Red and Violet — of the metro routes that crisscross the Delhi region, with the total network length of 213 km. It is announced that there shall be no change in the fares of the Airport Express Line (Orange Line).