Fare hike in Delhi Metro: Students protest outside Delhi Metro headquarters

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) recently revised passenger fares.

Recently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)revised passenger fares after a gap of nearly eight years. The protestors alleged that lakhs of students already spend over ₹100 per day on travel. Students from various universities, led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), staged a protest outside the DMRC headquarters.

Students’ protests against the revised passenger fares of the Delhi Metro.

On Tuesday, students from various universities, led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), staged a protest outside the DMRC headquarters. They have demanded immediate rollback of the recent metro fare hike, the student body said. Due to COVID-19 losses, the DMRC has grappled with financial stress, as well as loan repayments and upkeep costs. Hence, it revised passenger fares after a nearly eight-year gap. Officials said, “The hike ranges from ₹1 to ₹4 depending on the distance travelled.” Joining the demonstration was also Members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). They said the increase will hit students and working women the hardest as they rely on the metro for their daily commute.

Protestors allege students already spend over ₹100 per day on travel.

The protestors alleged that lakhs of students already spend over ₹100 per day on travel. According to them, the hike would add an additional burden of ₹500-₹800 per month. SFI Delhi State Committee member Sohan Kumar Yadav said, “A major portion of the student community comes from middle-class and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. An increase of even ten rupees per trip means hundreds of rupees extra every month, forcing us to choose between travel and essential academic needs like books, photocopies and meals.”

Secretary of AIDWA Delhi, Kavita Sharma, “For many women students and working women, the metro is the only safe and dependable means of reaching colleges, workplaces and homes. Making it unaffordable denies women their basic right to mobility and security.”