NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has appointed a private agency JMD Consultants Pvt. Ltd. to look after the operations of 48.8 km long Yellow Line of Delhi Metro for the next 3 years. For this purpose, JMD Consultants has appointed a total of 153 metro train operators (Drivers).
So far, training has already completed for 70 drivers at Delhi Metro Rail Academy at Shastri Park while for the remaining 83 drivers, training is still going on. The responsibility of training these drivers is with the DMRC.
As per DMRC, drivers appointed by the agency will look after the operations of metro trains plying on this line under the supervision of the department. The maintenance responsibility will continue to remain in hand of DMRC.
In June 2020, DMRC issued a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to JMD Consultant for the contract of Train Operation Services of Yellow Line (Line-2) at a total cost of INR 26.76 Crores.
DMRC has already given the responsibility of cleanliness and token sale at metro stations to private players and now for the first time, it has given operational responsibility of any metro line to a private company. DMRC has made preparations to gradually hand over operational responsibility of all other lines to private agencies in a phased manner.
DMRC has taken this decision due to financial crises and to reduce the cost of operations. The situation is further worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns, due to which Delhi Metro services remain shut down for months. Even at present, Delhi Metro is operating at very low capacity due to which commuters continue to face problems and financial losses due to loss of revenue continue to increase.
Revenue records for the FY 2020-21 of DMRC show 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 Crores as an interest to the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) which was utilized in the expansion of Delhi Metro rail network.
