Responding to a query, the minister emphasized that it is the responsibility of state governments to design such mechanisms carefully to prevent misuse. His statement gains significance as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has promised a 50% fare concession for students in the Delhi Metro, contingent on his party’s victory in the upcoming February 5 Assembly polls.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) operates under a 50:50 equity partnership between the Delhi government and the Centre. According to Lal, the current metro fare structure is determined by the statutory Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), whose recommendations are legally binding on metro companies.
He further clarified that, as per existing policy, state governments bear the responsibility for sustaining metro operations. "Any type of concession in metro travel should be implemented through a separate mechanism without impacting the regular fare structure. This mechanism should be meticulously devised by the respective state governments to prevent any scope for misuse," Lal noted in his written reply.
Kejriwal, while unveiling AAP’s election manifesto on January 27, pledged to introduce a 50% metro fare concession for students. Prior to this, on January 17, he had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging for a student fare rebate.
With elections approaching, the debate over metro fare subsidies has become a key political issue, drawing attention to the financial and policy implications of such concessions.
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