Supreme Court questions move to offer free Metro rides
Hindustan TimesThe Supreme Court took a dim view on Friday of the Arvind Kejriwal government’s proposal to allow women free rides on the Delhi Metro, reminding the state administration that such sops do not go hand-in-glove with claims of the network potentially suffering losses, but directed the Centre to bear half the land cost for Phase IV of the project. The bench was hearing the Delhi government’s contention that the Centre must share 50% cent of the land cost, bear an equal burden for operational losses, if any, caused to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and in case of a default in repaying a soft loan for the project. “Delhi government is bound to ensure that financial health of DMRC is maintained and no steps are taken so that it may run into losses,” the court ordered. On the Delhi government’s argument related to default of loan, SC said: “Considering so far no default has been made by DMRC we do not find anything objectionable that Delhi government should bear the responsibility to repay the soft loan.” Phase IV of Delhi Metro will consist six corridors — Aerocity to Tughlakabad, Inderlok to Indraprastha, Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block, Mukundpur to Maujpur, Janakpuri West to R K Ashram and Rithala to Bawana and Narela.