Free ride plan will benefit losses-gripped Delhi Metro: Manish Sisodia

A day after former Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi t to agree to Delhi government's free travel for women proposal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that Delhi Metro was running in losses.

"I have written to Sreedharan sahib and told him that Delhi Metro is running in losses. Its carrying capacity is 40 lakh passengers every day but presently it is carrying only 25 lakh passengers," Deputy Chief Minister told news ncy ANI.

Delhi government h recently anunced its decision to give free travel to women passengers on Metro and buses.

Popularly kwn as ''Metro Man,'' Mr Sreedharan wrote to PM Modi asking him t to agree to Delhi government's proposal.

Delhi government and Centre have an equal partnership in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

"Our proposal for ''free travel for women on Metro'' will be beneficial for Delhi Metro. Its ridership will increase and fares will come down. One of reasons behind low ridership is high fare. If Delhi government pays fare of women commuters, Delhi Metro should be happy with it," Mr Sisodia said.

Re: 'Result Of Misunderstanding..,' Writes Manish Sisodia To E Sreedharan Over His Objection To Free Delhi Metro Rides For Women. Re Letter Here

Earlier, responding to Metro Man E Sreedharan's letter to PM Narendra Modi opposing free metro rides for women in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia expressed his pain on  former's view.

In a letter to Sreedharan, Sisodia wrote, "Pained and surprised by your decision to oppose proposal of Delhi government to bear cost to provide free ridership for women in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation trains."

"By Delhi Metro's own mission, free ridership for women will increase women ridership by 50%. Delhi Metro should rejoice it and t oppose it. Even after providing free ridership, daily ridership will only go up by three lakhs on daily basis, which will still be less than 40 lakhs capacity facility was originally designed for," he ded in his letter.