Pay more for Metro ride

Metro fares hiked; to start Noida operation on Nov 13

The Metro will finally roll into Noida on November 13 but the ride will become costlier. The increased fare structure of the Delhi Metro will come into effect from Friday. While the minimum fare of Rs 6 has been increased to Rs 8, the maximum fare will now be Rs 30 as against the earlier rate of Rs 22. Announcing this, Director, Finance, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), RN Joshi said, "Two factors were taken into consideration before finalising the fare affordability of passengers and long term sustainability of the Metro system."

He added that despite the current hike, the Delhi Metro will be one of the cheapest in the world. Metro in Kolkata is cheaper. Meanwhile, even as the fare hike was being announced, political parties stepped into the arena.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the hike a blow to the people of Delhi. "This is the real face of the Congress regime. I wonder why the Metro fare has been increased when the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is making profits. It is another blow to the residents of the Capital after the bus fare hike," said VK Malhotra, the Delhi BJP chief, demanding a rollback.

Delhi Metro justified the increase. "The network has expanded and its operational costs have gone up. Also, there has been a rise in all components of cost and a hike in the consumer price index. Thus, the modest increase in fares is quite reasonable," Joshi said.u00a0

However, the present scheme of 10 per cent discount on smart cards will continue. The rate of a tourist card with a validity of one day has been increased from Rs 70 to Rs 100, and for three days, the rate has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250.

36 per cent
Is the average increase in fare

The final nod
On Wednesday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation got the final safety clearance from the Commissioner for Metro Railway Safety, RK Kardam, who inspected the Yamuna Bank-Noida section of the Delhi Metro on November 10 and 11.

The flagging-off ceremony will be held on Thursday by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in two different functions.u00a0 The new stretch will be opened for the public on Thursday.