The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) actual ridership has only reached 51.97% of its projected ridership and the operational cost ratio — the ratio of operating cost to income generated — has increased from 48.9% in 2011-12 to 80.5% in 2019-20, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s (CAG) report on DMRC’s implementation of its Phase III. The 116-page report, which is critical of the DMRC’s revenue generation from property development and operational management, was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.
The performance audit was carried out for a period between November 2018 and March 2020 to assess efficiency of the Delhi Metro’s operation and maintenance, planning process undertaken to ensure economic viability of the project, and project monitoring, among others.
“DMRC may enhance its efforts to increase operating efficiency by reducing the operating ratio and also estimate more realistic ridership for future detailed project reports (DPR),” CAG recommended.
