In a statement, the Delhi government said that another fare hike, within five months of the previous one, will act as a burden on commuters and bring down ridership.
It claimed that metro ridership has come down five per cent each in June and August, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 and 2015, due to the first round of the fare hike, which came into effect in May.
"The chief minister directed the chief secretary to apprise the DMRC Board about the notice for convening an emergency DMRC Board meeting, on the demand of the Delhi government," the statement said.
The decision was taken in a meeting convened by the chief minister and attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot, Chief Secretary M M Kutty, Principal Secretary (Finance) S N Sahai, Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi and other senior officials.
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DMRC's own data shows that the fare hike in May resulted in a decrease in ridership by five per cent in the month of June 2017, while in the same month in the last two years the ridership had gone up by eight and nine per cent respectively.
If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.
The existing fare structure is: up to 2 kms -- Rs 10, 2-5 kms -- Rs 15, 5-12 kms -- Rs 20, 12-21 kms -- Rs 30, 21-32 kms -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kms -- Rs 50.
From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.