Terming a report claiming a fall in Delhi Metro ridership as “falsification of facts”, Union Minister Hardeep Puri on Wednesday contended that DMRC’s passenger flow has gone up.
If there is a possibility that Metro ridership is not realising its “potential”, he said it is because Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is not giving approval for the Metro’s phase-IV project.
The Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) had Tuesday said the Delhi Metro has received nearly 32% less than the number of daily passengers it had hoped to serve this year. The research and advocacy group had attributed fare hike as the reason behind the sudden drop in ridership, approximately by 4.2 lakh passengers in 2018 compared to the previous year.
“I have a story going on today [on Wednesday] that Metro ridership has fallen, which is complete falsification of facts. Metro ridership has gone up... and it is going up. If there is a possibility that Metro ridership is not realising its potential, it is because Mr. Kejriwal is not giving me approval for Metro phase-IV, etc.,” Mr. Puri said.
Attending an event after inaugurating eight online services of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the Union Minister reiterated that if the Delhi government does not come on board for Metro’s phase-IV project, his Ministry will find a way.
In May this year, Mr. Puri had said the Centre will take a decision on execution of the Metro’s much-awaited phase-IV project if something was “lacking” on the Delhi government’s side. In February 2016, the AAP government had given in-principal approval for construction work of phase-IV project but the Delhi Cabinet is yet to take final decision on the issue.