The Delhi Metro incurred a loss of revenue of Rs 1,609 crore due to the lockdown followed by Bangalore metro with Rs 170 crore. Lucknow, Chennai and Kochi metros have incurred losses of Rs 90 crore, Rs 80 crore and Rs 34 crore respectively.
As per the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ data tabled in the Upper House on Thursday, a total loss of Rs 1,983 crore was incurred in five cities due to closure of metro rail services amid the coronavirus pandemic. Metro services, which were shut on March 22 to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, resumed on September 7 in a phased manner. Full-fledged normal operations resumed on September 12.
Replying to impact on loan repayment by various metro rail networks due to the lockdown, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said that loan was paid as per their schedule. During the lockdown period, he said, preparatory work like detailed designing, preparation of tender schedule and finalisation of tenders, among other things, had been carried out by the Delhi metro.
According to metro rail officials, metro projects have two sources of steady revenue – farebox, which accounts for almost 80 to 90 per cent of the revenue- ticketing, passes, sales.