50% off on Metro ride: DU students start campaign

20 Jan 2025 CW Team

A few days after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal proposed a 50% concession for students in Delhi Metro, Students' Federation of India (SFI) started a social media campaign on the same demand. Kejriwal wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the issue, which has also been a long-standing demand of student outfits in Delhi University. "Delhi's students rely on the metro for commuting to schools and colleges. To reduce the financial burden on them, I propose a 50% concession to students in Delhi Metro. Delhi Metro is a joint venture between the Central and Delhi govts. The expenditure on this scheme will have to be borne by both. I am hopeful you will agree with this proposal," Kejriwal's letter stated. SFI members said they were fighting to make education affordable for students. "Spending Rs 100 every day on conveyance adds up to Rs 3,000 per month, which is a hefty sum for a student. We want some relief for them," said an SFI member. The student organisation's campaign post read, "Delhi govt concedes to SFI's demand for a concessional metro pass for students. Now the ball is in the central govt's court. We demand our right to affordable transport in unequivocal terms!" The social media "storm" on X started at 7pm on Sunday. Students tagged PMO and DMRC in their posts. "Why should students pay full fare for daily commutes? It's time to recognise the financial strain on students. A concessional metro pass is a step towards making education truly affordable," posted a user.

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