Commuters availing the particular ‘final practice’ alongside Metro Railway’s busiest North-South Hall (or Blue Line) in Kolkata should pay a surcharge of Rs 10 from Wednesday (January 1, 2025). This was introduced by Metro Railway, Kolkata, on Tuesday.
The surcharge is because of poor occupancy which is inadequate to make up even a part of the prices concerned in working the extra pair of trains.
Metro had at all times been reluctant to run late-night providers past the 9:40 p.m. cutoff (from both finish), save on particular days just like the Pujas or day-night cricket matches at Eden Gardens. In Could 2024, after listening to a Public Curiosity Litigation, the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom requested Metro authorities to think about working a late-night service. Metro responded accordingly and from Could 24, a pair of trains began at 11 p.m. from New Garia and Dum Dum.
“There was hardly any patronage. On most days, there could be lower than 10 passengers on every practice. From June 24, we rescheduled the final trains to 10:40 p.m. Even then, there are few passengers. Passenger fares are closely subsidised in Metro Railway, Kolkata. Consequently, we function at an enormous deficit with a big working ratio.
In any case, Metro Railway has restricted sources of earnings because it would not carry freight. Lastly, a call was taken to impose a surcharge of Rs 10 for individuals availing the final practice. This was to return into impact from December, however was stored in abeyance attributable to numerous causes,” a senior Metro Railway official mentioned.
One of many causes was objections from numerous organisations, together with the Affiliation for the Safety of Democratic Rights (APDR), which even threatened an agitation if the surcharge was imposed. Metro countered that it prices over Rs 70,000 to function a pair of trains and this could solely add to the losses except there’s enough patronage.
“Being a authorities organisation, we would not have bothered in regards to the losses, had there been numerous passengers benefitting from the providers. This is not the case. It’s not justified to incur such losses, only for a handful of individuals. Therefore, a call was taken to impose the surcharge. It can now come into impact from January 1, 2025,” the official added.
