NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) faced losses amounting to INR 1784.87 Crores in the FY 2020-21 as operations were either curbed or stopped because of Covid-19, as per reported by HT.
Delhi Metro was closed for more than five months last year as the nationwide lockdown was imposed and as Covid-19 cases increased again in the capital, the metro system has been closed again for the past two weeks to curb the menace of rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in Delhi.
According to Anuj Dayal, Executive Director of (Corporate Communication), DMRC,” There has already been a significant impact on DMRC’s revenues, and as long as the pandemic and associated travel norms are in place, losses are likely to remain or even increase with the passage of time. However, as a public service system, we are also committed to the cause of stopping the spread of the disease and will always extend all possible cooperation in this regard.”
“Even though operations resumed after five-and-a-half months of complete shutdown — from March 22 to September 7 — last year, services were restricted to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour. After the Metro restarted, the passenger capacity of each coach was reduced from 300-350 to just 50. To ensure that the trains are sanitised after each trip, the waiting time on each route also increased from an average of three to six minutes earlier to 15 minutes”, said an official, as reported by HT.
Revenue records for the FY 2020-21 of DMRC shows that revenue from traffic operations, which includes income from tickets, feeder bus services and rentals, and other services stood at INR 895.88 Crores in comparison to INR 3,897.29 Crores in FY 2019-20.
DMRC financials books also show that in 2020-21, the agency ran into deficits of INR 1,784.87 Crores, as against a surplus of INR 758.01 Crores in 2019-20. In 2018-19, DMRC recorded a surplus of INR 1,027 Crores.
DMRC is also repaying loans amounting to INR 808.70 Crores and INR 433.85 as interest to the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) which was utilized in the expansion of Delhi Metro rail network.
As the lockdown in the capital has been extended by another week, Delhi Metro will remain shut for another week and service can resume after 31st May if the government ease lockdown restrictions after 31st May. Covid-19 cases are now lowering in the capital from last one week.
