Pay Rs 3,000 crore to avoid metro fare hike: Centre to Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Centre has informed the Kejriwal government that its request to put on hold the proposed Metro fare hike is 'legally untenable' as the recommendations of the tariff committee cannot be 'tempered' with.

However, it said it may consider the request only if the Delhi government agrees to pay Rs 3,000 crore annually.

The new DMRC fares will be effective from October 10.

In a letter to Kejriwal, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri reportedly said on Friday that such a provision has been suggested since the operational loss is the responsibility of the state government as per the metro guidelines.

The Delhi chief minister had written to the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to stall the fare hike recommended by the 4th Fare Fixation Committee.

“Your suggestion that this ministry direct that the fare increase be kept on hold overlooks the fact the central government does not have any such authority. Tampering with the recommendations of FFC is legally untenable,” PTI quoted Puri as saying in the letter.

Fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10 after the latest hike. The existing fare structure is: up to 2 km — Rs 10, 2-5 km — Rs 15, 5-12 km — Rs 20, 12-21 km — Rs 30, 21-32 km — Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kms — Rs 50.