Title - TRICITY METRO: DMRC comes out with fares 6 yrs early

Chandigarh : In a typical case of jumping the gun, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has come out with fares for the tricity metro rail six years before the rail will become operational. The fare for the tricity metro rail, which will be operational from 2018, will be Rs 2 per km while the highest slab may go up to between Rs 25 and Rs 30 on both proposed routes.The DMRC, in its detailed project report (DPR), submitted to the UT Administration recently, has proposed that the Chandigarh Administration can follow the fare system of the Delhi Metro.At present, the minimum fare (0-2 km) is Rs 8 while the maximum fare (over 39 km) is Rs 30 in Delhi.A senior official with the UT Administration said the DMRC suggested Rs 2 per km for the first 4 or 5 km whereas the highest slab for both the routes was proposed between Rs 20 and Rs 25.The official added that before finalising the fare structure for the tricity metro rail, officials with UT Administration, Punjab and Haryana would study the fare structure of the Delhi Metro rail, as suggested by the DMRC.For fare collection, the DMRC had recommended that the fare collection pattern in Delhi could be followed in the tricity metro system. It proposed automatic fare collection system with passenger-operated machines (POMs) and smart cards.Followed in several metro systems across the world, the proposed POMs, which were automatic ticket-vending machines, were installed at metro stations so that the inconvenience of standing in queues at ticket booths was not caused to passengers.

The official added that it was suggested in the DPR to increase the fare in 2021 or 2022 to maintain the balance between high cost of running a metro in the tricity. The DMRC had also proposed smart cards for the tricity metro project, the official added.

The DMRC stated that a fleet of 16 metro trains of four coaches each would be operational by the end of 2018 in the tricity.

The DMRC had earlier proposed that the tricity metro rail would run at a frequency of around 10 minutes during peak hours on the two proposed metro corridors in the first phase.

The DMRC had proposed six metro trains on the north-south corridor from the Capitol Complex to the Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan via Sector 9, ISBT-17, Aroma chowk, Sector 34, Sector-43 ISBT and Sectors 52, 62 and 70.

This corridor would have a total of 10 metro stations, including four elevated stations and six underground stations.

On the east-west corridor, the DMRC proposed 10 trains, each of four coaches. The proposed corridor would be from the Grain Market near Sector 21 at Panchkula to the Transport terminal via Raili village, bus stand, City Centre, HUDA office complex and the MDC at Panchkula and the Housing Board chowk, railway station, Timber Market, Sectors 26, 7 and 9, GMSH-16, PGI, Khuda Lahora, Sarangpur, Mullanpur and Air Force station.

This corridor would have a total of 20 metro stations, including 15 elevated stations and five underground stations.

CTU may cut frequency

Within a month of starting the metro service on the PGI-Panchkula section, the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) is contemplating a reduction in the frequency of bus service in the afternoon. At present, 24 buses are being run on the route every five minutes. Sources said passenger occupancy was reduced between 2 pm and 5 pm. The CTU was contemplating a reduction in frequency during these hours. Around 10 buses could be withdrawn and put on other routes, said CTU officials.

1.76 lakh travel a day

At present, 1.76 lakh passengers, who commute daily in CTU buses, pay Rs 5 for up to 5 km and Rs 10 for above 5 km. In AC buses, the fare for up to 5 km is Rs 10 and for above 5 km Rs 15. According to officials, the CTU is running into losses. The occupancy rate of local buses procured under the JNNURM is 76 per cent. Last year, the occupancy of buses was 71 per cent.