Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Friday warned Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Managing Director Mangu Singh that the government will take action against him if the proposed Metro fare hike is implemented.

The Delhi government has been opposing the proposed Metro fare hike from October 10.

Gahlot in a letter addressed to the DMRC chief said that Singh was nominated by the Delhi government “to put forward the view point of Delhi government in the Board meetings of DMRC” and added “If the government feels its views are not being presented, the government shall be constrained to act as per the prevalent and applicable rules and regulations”.

The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the Central government and the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

On Thursday, Gahlot had asked Chief Secretary MM Kutty to call a meeting of all Delhi government-nominated Directors on the DMRC Board.

Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had termed the Delhi Metro fare hike as “anti-people”.

Later, Gahlot had met Singh and asked that the proposed hike be put on hold till the Delhi government completes an inquiry in the matter.

The Delhi Assembly will also meet on 9 October to discuss the proposed hike and pass a resolution against it.

On 1 October, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal had demanded an independent audit of the Delhi Metro’s accounts after state government wrote to Urban Affairs Ministry against the proposed fare hike.

Kejriwal also asked for a stay on the proposed fare hike till the audit report is received.

Set up by the Central government last year to see the case for and recommend a price hike, the three-member FFC, comprising a nominee each from the Central and the Delhi governments and a retired judge of Delhi High Court, had approved a two-phase hike in May. While one hike has already been done, the other was scheduled to be implemented from 10 October.

Delhi CM also urged the DMRC to follow the financial model of the Hong Kong Metro and has advised the corporation to raise funds through properties allotted to it by the government. The model if implemented efficiently and transparently, the process would significantly improve DMRC’s finances and lead to a much lower fare hike.

The DMRC has defended its decision on hike saying its input costs have gone up over the years, and the increase is at par with Metro rails in other cities.

(With agency inputs)