Metro fare hike: Students, trade unions demand rollback

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 19

Scores of students joined by trade unions today gathered outside the Delhi Metro headquarters here to lodge their resentment over the recent hike in metro fares and demanded it to be rolled back.

Accusing the metro body of “insensitivity”, representatives of the Left-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) criticised the move saying the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has ignored the concerns of the poor and raised the fares even as it has been earning increased profits by about 30 per cent.

According to Delhi AISA president Neeraj Kumar, the increase in fares by the DMRC will increase the burden on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) which is already reeling under pressure to cater to the needs of people. This will also result in traffic congestion on roads in the coming days, he added.

Ever since the hike was announced several student bodies, trade unions and women's right organisations have been staging demonstrations against it.

On May 10, the DMRC hiked its fares on the basis of the recommendations of a three-member Fare Fixation Committee.

However, DMRC officials told representatives of the protesters that the call on any rollback of fare hike has to be taken by the government.

On Monday, the All India Democratic Women's Association, the Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Students Federation of India (SFI) had protested outside the DMRC office at Jantar Mantar demanding a rollback of the hike in fares.

The SFI is expected to hold another protest at the Metro Bhawan in Barakhamba Road on May 22.

Last week, the Delhi Metro Commuters’ Association too opposed the increase of metro fares seeking an immediate revocation of the increase saying it would adversely affect majority commuters.