Delhi Metro on Monday hiked fares for different distances by up to 66 per cent, with the maximum fare going up to Rs 50 from earlier Rs 30, from May 10.

However, the Delhi government criticised the decision, saying it had rather called for reducing fares.

Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) Executive Director Anuj Dayal told the media that the minimum fare -- applicable for travel up to two km -- had been raised to Rs 10 from earlier Rs 8.

There will be a total of six fare slabs as against existing 15, with a minimum fare of Rs 10 and a maximum of Rs 50.

The new fare structure slabs are: Rs 10 (0-2 km), Rs 15 (2-5 km), Rs 20 (5-12 km), Rs 30 (12-21 km), Rs 40 (21-32 km) and Rs 50 (beyond 32 km).

"This is the first phase of fare hike to be implemented from May 10," Dayal said. "The second phase will be implemented from October onwards."

In the second phase, the maximum fare will go up to Rs 60.

DMRC Director K.K. Saberwal said the revision was necessary on account of increase in the input cost -- staff salaries, cost of energy, repair, and maintenance.

Reacting to the fare hike, Delhi government's Media Adviser Nagendar Sharma tweeted: "The hike is a wrong decision. The elected Delhi government had opposed the move -- it will adversely affect the regular passengers."

He said the government had told the DMRC that women and students would be adversely affected in case of the fare hike.   

"The Delhi government had told DMRC (that) fare increase will force commuters to shift (again) to personal vehicles and that fares should be reduced."

DMRC has announced special discounts to commuters on Sundays and national holidays with the maximum fare reduced to Rs 40.

The fare structure on these weekends will be divided into the following slabs: Rs 10 (0-12 km), Rs 20 (12-21 km), Rs 30 (21-32 km) and Rs 40 (beyond 32 km).

Apart from that, 10 per cent discount would be given to commuters using smart cards during non-peak hours from Monday to Saturday.

"This discount will be given to those who exit from Metro system during off-peak hours -- (6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 9 p.m. to closing of service) to avoid overcrowding during peak hours," Dayal said.

There will be no change in the fares on the Airport Express Line.