The Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against the proposed Metro fare hike, with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleging that it was a “conspiracy” to boost the private transport companies in the capital.

The resolution moved on Wednesday last by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot urging the Union Urban Development Ministry to “quickly and actively intervene” was passed by a voice vote in the House.

Participating in the discussion on the resolution, Sisodia alleged that the proposed Metro fare hike was a well-planned “conspiracy” to compel commuters to quit the metro and hire private cabs for their daily travel.

“The actual purpose of the hike in Metro is not to meet the financial gap in their operating finances, but it is a conspiracy so that the companies like Ola and Uber will be benefited,” Sisodia said.

Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said if the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had utilised its property efficiently, there would not have been any dearth of funds to operate the metro, as is being claimed by the corporation.

“The DMRC has so many properties at the prime locations in the city, which are left abandoned. They can easily utilise these properties to generate revenue, but instead, they are looting people in the name of fare hike,” he said.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and DMRC have been at loggerheads over the proposed Metro fare hike. On 29 September, Kejriwal had requested the Central government to put the metro fare hike on hold till the issue will be solved amicably. If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.

Comparing the proposal of Union Ministry to pay Rs 3,000 for five years to avert Metro fare hike with the “Lagaan” from the British colonial era, Sisodia said after paying the regular taxes, the Centre now wants Delhi’ites to pay extra money for no apparent reason.

“DMRC is not a soap company, instead it has been set up by people’s money. Its objective is not to mint money but to provide cheap transport service to people,” he said.

Sisodia also vowed to make the Metro “profitable and efficient” if the DMRC is taken over by the state government.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the AAP dispensation should pay the 100 per cent operational losses if they want to halt the proposed fare hike.

Charging the AAP for taking political mileage out of the issue, Gupta said that the government is not serious about the people’s concern.

“There are five nominees of the Delhi government in the DMRC board. Why did they allow the board to increase fares of Metro,” Gupta alleged.

However, rubbishing Gupta’s assertions, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said that despite the objection from the Delhi government, the DMRC decided to go ahead with its decision to increase the fare.

Gahlot said from 2006 to 2017, the Metro has earned only Rs 413 crore from the property development.

“Had they (Metro) would use their property for commercial purposes to earn money, there would be no need to increase the hike,” Gahlot said.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has also written to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to withhold the hike.