Delhi Metro’s maximum fare might be upped to Rs 70

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is facing a lot of increasing expenses these days, while it also has to repay the loan taken from Japan. This is why it is seeking to double the fares, with its minimum fare being 15 as against the present Rs 8, and maximum of Rs 70 as compared to the current Rs 30.

As per TOI sources, DMRC has also submitted a proposal to the fare fixation committee that the fares should be in the multiples of five so that there is no need to provide small change to cash-paying passengers. It was in 2009 that DMRC has last revised its fares, and that is when the current minimum and maximum fares were decided.

The fare fixation committee, which will be headed by a retired high court judge, will be submitting its recommendations in the next two months and the government will be taking a final decision.

As per sources, 40% of DMRC's total expenditure comes from electricity charges, which has increased by almost 100% in the past six years. Add to it the expanding metro network and the deteriorating operating ratio, and we have the reason why DMRC is forced to think of such a step.

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