To make metro/rapid rail projects more viable for private players, the urban development ministry has proposed in a cabinet note that the cost of CISF security for all such projects coming up on public-private partnership mode should be borne by the exchequer and not by the operator.
Loading on the cost of security personnel to metro operations would lead to the enhancement of passenger fare by about 35-40%.
The Reliance-owned DAMEPL, which used to operate the airport express metro line, had refused to clear the dues of CISF for guarding the line, saying the cost of security was too high to make the project operationally viable.
?Providing security for metros CISF is an expensive proposition that may have an adverse bearing on the viability the project in case it is to be borne by the metro railways,? the cabinet note said.
In Delhi Metro, the CISF personnel deployed are more in number than the operational and management staff required to operate and maintain the train system.
?The public security cost need to be met from the general exchequer. Therefore, the cost of security for metro railways on PPP mode should be borne by the government as a sovereign function. The cost of security is so high that will increase the passenger fares leading to low ridership as it was in the case of airport line,? said an urban development ministry official.
The cost of securing the airport line for six months came to around Rs 16 crore, which the CISF is yet to recover from DAMEPL. The sum includes the salary paid by the CISF to over 300 of its personnel.
The cost of security of all government-owned (both state and central) metro projects are borne by the ministry of urban development as in the case of the regular metro line service running in Delhi and the national capital region.