NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday asked the
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (
DMRC) how it can justify not providing
free drinking water to commuters if metro services in Kochi, Jaipur, Lucknow and other cities are making it available.
A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao also asked the corporation how it was going to provide water free of cost to commuters at one location inside the metro stations so that it is accessible to everyone. "Clarify how you (DMRC) will implement it. Clarify if you can provide free drinking water at one particular point in a station which is accessible to all commuters," it said and listed the matter for further hearing on October 11.
The court asked for the information as DMRC in an affidavit has said that in stations where water ATMs or kiosks are not available its officials can be approached by those in emergent need of water.
Advocate Kush Sharma, appearing for petitioner Kush Kalra, told the court that metro services in other cities were providing free drinking water to commuters, but Delhi Metro, which was a consultant in all those projects, was not. Taking note of the submission, the court asked DMRC, "What is your justification for that?"
Representational image
