Delhi Metro | Photo Credit: PTI

New Delhi: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) principal advisor E Sreedharan on Friday wrote back to Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia telling him that his protest against the Delhi government's proposal to allow free travel for women in Delhi Metro will continue until the loan that the DMRC has taken for the metro is paid off. Sreedharan, who is also known as Metro Man, also slammed the proposal calling it a poll gimmick by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sreedharan argued that the AAP-led government might compensate the metro for losses due to free travel to women but successor governments may not and then DMRC will not be able to reverse this decision which will lead to further debt, which already stands at Rs 35,000 crore.

He also took on AAP's suggestion that free travel to women in the metro will provide security to them. Sreedharan asked what about the security of women once they step out of metro and encounter lurking dangers on the road. He then suggested that the Delhi government should work on traffic congestion and safety on roads rather than providing free travel to them.

"I would, therefore, appeal to your government not to destroy an efficient and successful public transport system such as Delhi Metro for electoral gains," he concluded his letter.

Retaliating to E Sreedharan's letter, AAP leader Atishi said that it is impossible for her to believe that a man like Sreedharan is talking like a BJP spokesperson.

Earlier on June 14, Delhi Sisodia had written to Dr E Sreedharan, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) advisor, explaining him the financial benefits of providing free rides to women in Delhi Metro and requesting him to soften his stance against the Delhi government's proposal.

In his letter, Manish Sisodia said that he was surprised and pained by E Sreedharan's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing Delhi government's proposal to allow free ridership for women in the DMRC trains.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader explained that DMRC is catering to an average ridership of less than 25 lakh whereas the total capacity of the Delhi Metro is 40 lakh passengers daily. He argued that the metro is running at less than 65 per cent efficiency while the rest of the metro is lying idle.

"By Delhi Metro's own admission, free ridership for women will increase women ridership by 50 per cent. Delhi Metro should celebrate this rather than oppose it. Even after providing free ridership for women, DMRC daily ridership will go up by only three lakh on a daily basis, which will still be much less than the designed capacity of 40 lakhs," wrote Sisodia.

Delhi Dy CM @msisodia writes to Dr. E. Sreedharan on his letter to hon'ble PM regarding #FreeRidesForWomen in Metro. pic.twitter.com/4Hc0966KN8 — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 14, 2019

He went on to add that Delhi Metro is one of the most expensive modes of transportation in the world today, keeping purchasing power parity in mind and that DMRC should ponder on providing a cost-effective mode of transport to people of Delhi rather than keep its trains idle.

The Delhi deputy CM reasoned that the intention of the Delhi government for allowing free travel for women is to ensure women safety and encourage the use of public transport in the national capital to reduce air pollution. "It is a revolutionary step to empower women and it will open up immense opportunities for women," he added.

Delhi government will buy around a million coupons in bulk from the DMRC on a daily basis and provide these to women commuters for their free travel, assured Manish Sisodia. He finally concluded the letter by requesting E Sreedharan to reconsider his stand and bless the Delhi government to go ahead with their proposal.

Earlier in May, Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government announced its intention to provide free travel for women in Delhi Metro and asserted that it intends to roll out the plan within eight months of the announcement. However, E Sreedharan, who is credited with the overwhelming success of the Delhi Metro, downplayed the government's plan claiming that it will lead the DMRC to bankruptcy.