Centre-Delhi Metro partnership a facade: Kejriwal to MoS Puri

CM Arvind Kejriwal. (File)

The equal partnership in the Delhi Metro between the Delhi government and the Centre is a “facade” meant for obtaining “large contributions of funding” from the Delhi government, said CM Arvind Kejriwal in his letter to MoS Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, urging the formation of an “independent expert group”, acceptable to both the Centre and the state.

In the letter, Kejriwal wrote, “This entire episode demonstrates that while the Delhi government and central government are equal partners in the DMRC, the Delhi government has virtually no say in its management. Moreover, DMRC is in no way accountable to the Delhi government, nor does it pay any heed to our directions. Evidently, the said partnership is only a facade that is being used for obtaining large contributions of funding from the Delhi government.”

Kejriwal added, “I would strongly urge that an independent expert group, acceptable to central and Delhi government, be set up immediately to review all the issues raised above and come up with cogent recommendations.”

He added that the contention that operational losses must be borne “solely by the Delhi government” established “absurdity of the prevailing arrangements where all losses are required to be borne by the Delhi government even though it has no say whatsoever in the management of DMRC.” He added, “We are not opposed to fare revisions per se. But fare hikes be allowed only to the extent necessary since they affect a vast majority of our people.”