The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday said that the reduction in ridership in October was not solely because of the fare hike but because of other factors too.
Media reports, quoting an RTI reply, have claimed that the Metro’s daily ridership had fallen by at least three lakh commuters daily since the second fare revision in October.
Reacting to the reports, the DMRC said in a statement: “The drop in ridership in October is not solely attributable to increase in fares as there are otherwise monthly variations noted throughout the year”.
“In October there were five Sundays, when ridership is usually around 60-70% of the working day ridership. This monthly variation in ridership is dependent on other factors such as season, vacations, holidays, festivals etc.”
The DMRC said that October started with a long weekend, which turned out to be an extended holiday due to Dussehra falling on September 30, followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, a national holiday.
The month also witnessed extended weekends/holidays due to Diwali, Chhath Pooja, Bhai Duj and Goverdhan. The ridership after the fare revision for many days was actually higher than the ridership before the fare revision, claimed the DMRC.
Numbers rising
“It is pertinent to mention that in 2016 also, the ridership dipped by 1.3 lakh from September to October in spite of no change in fare. ridership in November this year has shown rising trend,” the DMRC added.
The Metro also said that the fare revision had been implemented on the recommendations of the fourth fare fixation committee, which is a statutory body under the Delhi Metro Act, 2002.
