How to File RTI with DMRC for Metro Card, Fare Disputes and Project Information

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) is a joint venture company incorporated under the Companies Act. The equity is held equally — 50% by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and 50% by the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD). DMRC plans, builds, and operates the Delhi Metro network, which serves millions of passengers across Delhi and adjoining areas every day.

DMRC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Because the Central Government holds 50% equity and substantially finances DMRC's capital expenditure, it is treated as a Central Government public authority for RTI purposes. Your RTI application must be filed at rtionline.gov.in, and any second appeal goes to the Central Information Commission (CIC) — not the Delhi Information Commission (DIC).

Citizens use RTI with DMRC to resolve metro smart card balance and fare disputes, follow up on card refunds, obtain land acquisition compensation details, and scrutinise the cost and progress of new metro lines.

Important: DMRC is a Central Government public authority. Second appeals go to the Central Information Commission (CIC), not the Delhi Information Commission.

What Can RTI to DMRC Help With?

Metro Card and Fare Issues

Smart Card (DMRC Card / One Delhi Card)

DMRC's stored-value smart card — now part of the One Delhi card ecosystem — deducts the applicable fare on each trip. The fare is calculated based on the distance band between the origin and destination station. If a passenger believes the wrong fare was deducted, RTI is the most reliable way to confirm the official figure.

Key facts:

• The DMRC fare chart is publicly available on DMRC's website. However, the official RTI response creates a certified record that can be used in a Consumer Forum complaint or a written grievance to DMRC.
• Each smart card transaction is logged in DMRC's back-end system — the data includes the station of entry, station of exit, amount debited, and timestamp.
• For the One Delhi card (which can also be used on DTC buses), clarify in your RTI whether you are asking about metro trips specifically.

RTI Questions for a Fare Dispute

Ask the CPIO for:

1. The official fare applicable for a journey from Origin Station to Destination Station as per the DMRC fare chart in force on DD/MM/YYYY, for a regular (non-concessional) smart card holder.
2. The distance in kilometres between Origin Station and Destination Station as used by DMRC for fare calculation.
3. The transaction log for smart card number Card No. for the period DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY — specifically the debit amount, entry station, exit station, and timestamp for each transaction.
4. Whether the fare applicable to my card category on the journey in question differs from the standard fare, and if so, the basis for the difference.

Metro Card Surrender and Refund Delay

When a passenger surrenders a DMRC smart card at a customer service centre, DMRC is required to refund:

• The ₹50 security deposit paid at the time of card purchase.
• Any remaining stored balance on the card.

Delays in processing this refund are a common grievance. RTI can establish:

• Whether DMRC received the surrender request and on what date.
• The prescribed turnaround time for refund processing.
• Whether the refund has been processed and, if so, the mode (cash, bank transfer) and reference number.

Land Acquisition and Infrastructure

DMRC acquires private and public land for new metro corridors, depots, elevated stations, and ancillary infrastructure. Land acquisition for DMRC projects is conducted under applicable land acquisition law, and affected persons are entitled to fair compensation.

RTI for Land Acquisition Compensation

If your land has been acquired — or is likely to be acquired — for a DMRC project, RTI can reveal:

1. Whether the land bearing plot/survey/Khasra number in locality/village/district falls within the acquisition notification for DMRC Phase/Corridor name.
2. The preliminary notification number and date, and the final award notification number and date, for the acquisition.
3. The compensation rate per unit area (per sq. metre or per acre) determined for residential/agricultural/commercial land in the concerned locality under this acquisition.
4. The total compensation amount awarded for the specific plot, broken down into market value, solatium, and any rehabilitation and resettlement component.
5. Whether the compensation amount has been deposited, the date of deposit, and the depositing authority.
6. The name, designation, and contact details of the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) handling this acquisition.

RTI for Phase IV Expansion and Project Contracts

DMRC's Phase IV expansion (covering corridors including Janakpuri West–RK Ashram, Aerocity–Tughlakabad, and others) involves substantial public expenditure. RTI can be used to examine:

• The approved project cost for a specific Phase IV corridor and any revisions approved.
• The civil construction contractor (or joint venture) awarded a specific package — official name, registered address, contract value, and scope of work.
• The scheduled and revised completion date for a corridor or station package, and the officially recorded reasons for any delay.
• The status of utility shifting or other work packages causing a particular bottleneck.
• The number and identity of contractors who submitted bids for a specific tender, and the basis of selection of the winning bidder (to the extent not commercially third-party-sensitive under Section 8(1)(d)).

Where to File

DMRC is classified as a Central Government public authority. File your RTI at rtionline.gov.in.

Step-by-Step Filing on rtionline.gov.in

1. Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request.
2. Select Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs as the Ministry/Department.
3. Select Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) as the public authority.
4. In the text field, provide your identifying details (smart card number, surrender date, land survey number, or project corridor name — whichever is relevant) and state each question clearly and separately.
5. Pay the ₹10 fee online (debit card, credit card, or net banking). BPL cardholders are exempt — attach a copy of your BPL card.
6. Submit the application and note the registration number for tracking.

Tip: If you need a certified copy of a specific document (fare notification, acquisition award, contract award letter), state explicitly: "I request a certified copy of document name." A summary or verbal confirmation alone does not carry the same evidentiary weight.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Metro Card and Fare

1. Official DMRC fare for journey from Station A to Station B as on date, for regular smart card holder.
2. Transaction log for smart card No. for the period start date to end date — entry station, exit station, debit amount, and timestamp for each trip.
3. Date and status of metro card surrender request submitted at Station Name on date, and the refund amount due and paid.
4. DMRC's prescribed turnaround time for processing security deposit refunds on card surrender, and the escalation contact if the refund is not received within that period.
5. Whether any concessional fare category applies to smart cards issued for specific scheme, e.g., student concession / senior citizen and the difference in fare for the OD pair in question.

Accessibility and Station Facilities

1. Whether Station Name has an operational lift and ramp for wheelchair users as mandated under the Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free Built Environment (2016) and DMRC's accessibility policy.
2. The maintenance log for escalators/lifts at Station Name for the last 6/12 months — dates of breakdown, duration of outage, and date of restoration.
3. Number of complaints received at Station Name regarding accessibility in the last 12 months and action taken on each.

Land Acquisition

1. Whether plot bearing survey/Khasra No. in locality is included in the acquisition notification for DMRC corridor, and the notification number and date.
2. Compensation rate per sq. metre / per acre for residential/agricultural land in locality under the acquisition, and the methodology used to arrive at the market value.
3. Total compensation awarded for the specific plot and whether it has been deposited.

Phase IV Project Details

1. Approved project cost of corridor name and any revised cost approved, with the date of revision.
2. Name and registered address of the contractor/JV awarded civil package name/number, contract value, and original and revised completion date.
3. Reason for delay in specific corridor or station — whether it relates to land acquisition, utility shifting, contractor performance, or funding.
4. Names of bidders who submitted technical and financial bids for tender tender number and the evaluated scores or financial bids, to the extent not third-party-confidential.

Appeals

First Appeal — Section 19(1)

If DMRC's CPIO does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at DMRC within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address the First Appeal to the FAA at Metro Bhawan, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi – 110001. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with recorded reasons).

Second Appeal — Section 19(3)

If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the First Appeal period. The CIC can:

• Direct DMRC to provide the information.
• Impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000 maximum) on the errant CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act.
• Recommend disciplinary action against the CPIO.

Why CIC and not DIC? Although GNCTD is a 50% equity partner in DMRC, the Central Government (through MoHUA) holds the other 50% and substantially funds DMRC's capital expenditure. The CIC — not the Delhi Information Commission — has jurisdiction over Central Government public authorities. DMRC's RTI matters consistently go to the CIC, consistent with its status as a Central Government-funded joint venture public authority.