Centre told chief secy to turn down CM’s order: says Sisodia

NEW DELHI:When the Delhi Government failed to get details of passengers in Metro rail and revenue after hike in Metro fare, it believed that the Centre has instructed the Delhi Chief Secretary to turn down Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's direction who asked him to order a probe into the issue of Metro's fare hike and other related issues.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 14

When the Delhi Government failed to get details of passengers in Metro rail and revenue after hike in Metro fare, it believed that the Centre has instructed the Delhi Chief Secretary to turn down Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's direction who asked him to order a probe into the issue of Metro's fare hike and other related issues.

This was said by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a briefing today.

Sisodia shared a communication from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to Chief Secretary MM Kutty with reporters suggesting the same, which, he said, vindicates the government's position that Kutty was "stalling the process at the BJP's behest".

"The DMRC is not a state PSU. It has been organised as a 50:50 equity partnership of the Central Government and the state government. Therefore, it is neither Central nor state PSU. It is a board run government company. Therefore, the state government has no authority to make an enquiry into DMRC affairs," the letter to Kutty states.

Sisodia said the government was not buying Metro's contention that it had to resort to a fare hike since it was running on losses.

"We will ensure that a probe is done. The Delhi Assembly has every right to get a probe done. The House Committee is already conducting one," he said.

The communication from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, however, clearly states that neither the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi nor the Delhi Government has "competence to inquire into Metro's affairs. We have never interfered in Metro operation," Sisodia said.