Why is there no drinking water at Metro stations, asks Delhi high court

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked why can’t Delhi Metro provided free basic services like drinking water and sanitation to travellers at the metro stations.

When the DMRC’s counsel submitted that they were giving water at the stations at a nominal charge of Rs 1 per glass and also adding better services each day, the court rapped the corporation saying it was behaving like this as it had no competition.

“What services you are giving? Where there is no competition, there is no service. If you get a competitor, you will give all the facilities. Why are you charging even Rs 1? You should give drinking water for free,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Kush Kalra, a commuter, complaining that Delhi Metro does not provide toilets, drinking water and dustbin facilities at any of the stations here.

During the hearing, advocate Kush Sharma, appearing for the petitioner, argued that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was charging Rs 1 per glass of water, whereas it should be provided free.

The DMRC was even charging commuters for using toilets and had removed dustbins from the stations, he said.

Earlier, the court had directed DMRC to indicate on affidavit how many toilet and drinking water facilities were available at metro stations and whether the amenities were generally accessible to commuters.

It had said it has provided toilet facility for commuters at 138 metro stations but there are 11 metro stations where there are no such facilities due to lack of space.