Independent audit of DMRC, put fare hike on hold: Delhi CM Kejriwal
By Express News Service | Published: 01st October 2017 08:08 PM |
Last Updated: 01st October 2017 08:08 PM | A+A A- |
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (File | PTI)
NEW DELHI: The Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday stated that the income and expenditures of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) should be independently audited and put in public for scrutiny also the increase of fare in metro should be put on hold.
Giving the example of private power companies (discoms) which are providing electricity to the national capital and Kejriwal said “There is an immediate need for an independent audit of the DMRC accounts, since residents of Delhi have already experienced how the private power distribution companies (Discoms) used to hike power tariffs by showing fake losses. It is only since 2015 that there have been no power tarrif hikes in Delhi”.
The topic has become a bone of contention between the Delhi government and the DMRC which runs the vast metro network in the national capital, proving as a lifeline to millions of commuters.
The Chief Minister continued by stating that the government opposed the proposal in the latest Fare Fixation Committee meeting held and the DMRC ignored the vies of an elected government.
In defense of the decision to hike the fares for the commuters in metro, the DMRC said that it is necessary for repaying its outstanding loan and for covering the operational costs.
In reply the Kejriwal this argument is “highly flawed” and that the “DMRC should follow the Hong Kong model” of running the metro operations.
Reacting to Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's comment that the Centre won't let the metro become another Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the DTC may be suffering losses, but it was at least serving the people.
The Delhi Government has 50 percent stake in the DMRC, the state Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot said that Delhi Chief Secretary and Transport Commissioner were not present in the last meeting held with the DMRC. The proposed fare hike of Rs 10 was supposed to be implemented from October 10.
