The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday travelled on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster buses to interact and get their feedback on the free ride scheme for woman that was implemented recently on the festival of 'Bhai Dooj'.
Kejriwal took the bus route number 85 from the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO, towards Anand Vihar Bus terminal. He then got off at the Nirman Vihar Metro bus-stop and boarded the bus number 720 towards Shahdara terminal. He made two subsequent stops at Jagatpuri and then toward Azad Nagar. Between the rides, he waited for the next bus to arrive with fellow riders and was swarmed by bystanders for selfies.
"Now all our sisters in Delhi are Very Important Persons (VIPs). Until now, only MPs and MLAs would get free transport perks. Now all women will also get free transport facilities. I boarded a few buses to get direct feedback from women. In addition to students, working women, women going for shopping, I also met a few who have to visit the doctor regularly. They are also very happy."
"This is such a great empowering initiative for women. We are so happy this is the first Government I have seen that is actively thinking about women. Now, I can save Rs 1000-2000 every month and can invest in my children's needs," said Rani Devi, showing her pink ticket to CM.
Another woman on the bus shared that she will save Rs 3000 per month because of this scheme.
"I travel to college everyday by bus. Even though my parents are paying for travel costs, sometimes we were not able to manage in that. I will save at least Rs 400-500 every month," said Sonal, a student of interior designing.
Another woman passenger who supported the move said, "I have to change buses to travel to work. I end up spending Rs 40-50 every day on travel. For me this decision means a saving of approximately Rs 2,000. And I make only Rs 11,000 a month, so Rs 2000 has a lot of value for people like us."
On the issue of the free travel scheme being extended to the Delhi Metro, Kejriwal said, "We are working on that as well. It is taking slightly longer because we have to do it together with the Centre. Even that scheme will start soon.
Further, as per the data shared by Delhi Government, out of the total 7,44, 917 passengers travelled in the DTC bus, 2,48,112 i.e, 33 percentage were woman passengers who travelled via the Pink Ticket facility. While, in cluster buses, a total number of 2, 90,927 commuters travelled, of which 72,105 were woman.
