New Delhi: Members of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) on Sunday took to the streets, demanding a 50% concession on metro and DTC rides for Delhi University (DU) students. Leading the protest, DUSU President Ronak Khatri addressed chief minister Rekha Gupta, urging her to act on this long-standing student demand. Khatri criticised the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for failing to deliver on similar promises over the past decade and appealed to Gupta, a former DUSU President, to understand the challenges faced by students.During the march, Khatri emphasised the determination of the students, stating, “Today, we are on the streets. If we are not heard, we will go to the CM’s office. But we will ensure that students get what they deserve.”The demand for concessional metro passes was a recurring issue in Delhi University politics, frequently appearing in DUSU election manifestos and gaining momentum through online campaigns. Student organisations such as ABVP, NSUI, AISA, and SFI consistently included metro pass discounts or even free passes in their platforms, but the initiative was yet to be implemented.In the 2024 DUSU elections, ABVP’s manifesto promised discounted metro access, while AISA’s 2023 manifesto pledged free metro passes in response to rising living costs under the National Education Policy reforms. Additionally, SFI launched an online campaign in late 2024 under the hashtag #StudentsForMetroPass, tagging key authorities and highlighting the financial burden on students who spend upwards of ₹3,000 monthly on commuting. The campaign included a social media storm and a protest outside the transport ministry, even garnering a 60,000-signature petition.Despite these efforts, the demand for concessional metro passes remains unmet, and student organisations continue to advocate for affordable transportation options to ease the financial strain on students.New Delhi: Members of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) on Sunday took to the streets, demanding a 50% concession on metro and DTC rides for Delhi University (DU) students. Leading the protest, DUSU President Ronak Khatri addressed chief minister Rekha Gupta, urging her to act on this long-standing student demand. Khatri criticised the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for failing to deliver on similar promises over the past decade and appealed to Gupta, a former DUSU President, to understand the challenges faced by students.During the march, Khatri emphasised the determination of the students, stating, “Today, we are on the streets. If we are not heard, we will go to the CM’s office. But we will ensure that students get what they deserve.”The demand for concessional metro passes was a recurring issue in Delhi University politics, frequently appearing in DUSU election manifestos and gaining momentum through online campaigns. Student organisations such as ABVP, NSUI, AISA, and SFI consistently included metro pass discounts or even free passes in their platforms, but the initiative was yet to be implemented.In the 2024 DUSU elections, ABVP’s manifesto promised discounted metro access, while AISA’s 2023 manifesto pledged free metro passes in response to rising living costs under the National Education Policy reforms. Additionally, SFI launched an online campaign in late 2024 under the hashtag #StudentsForMetroPass, tagging key authorities and highlighting the financial burden on students who spend upwards of ₹3,000 monthly on commuting. The campaign included a social media storm and a protest outside the transport ministry, even garnering a 60,000-signature petition.Despite these efforts, the demand for concessional metro passes remains unmet, and student organisations continue to advocate for affordable transportation options to ease the financial strain on students.
