Delhi Metro said the fare hike is at par with Metros in other cities (AFP photo)
To balance household expenses after the metro fare hike, more than 65 per cent women in Delhi will look for a cheaper mode of travel. And for this, they could be forced to compromise on safety, the Delhi Commission for Women said today after a survey.
A statement by the Commission today said: "68.68 per cent of the women stated that they would be forced to adopt less safer modes of transportation or would be forced to travel less frequently and won't be able to use the metro as frequently as earlier".
"At a time when six rapes and several cases of eve-teasing and harassment are reported each day, the metro fare hike has forced women to go back to less safer modes of transportation," said the commission chief Swati Maliwal. Around 97 percent women said they want a rollback in the fare, the survey has found.
The Delhi Metro Rail Commission pushed through the fare hike today despite stringent opposition from the Arvind Kejrial-led Aam Aadmi Party government. The hike - second in six months- has been attributed to rising losses and input costs over the years. With a minimum increase of Rs 10, the maximum fare has now become Rs 60.
Last week, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told the Delhi government that it would need to pay Rs. 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike.
Mr Kejriwal had responded by saying that his government will foot half the bill it it was allowed to take over the metro operations. The offer was turned down by the Centre. Mr Puri said it was "not in line with the existing policies".
Today a chunk of twitter users demanded a rollback, saying their expenses have tripled within months. AAP leader Ashutosh tweeted, "I travel regularly in Metro. Now I have to pay more. Double the cost. Painful for me and millions like me".