The Delhi Assembly on Monday approved the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government's supplementary demands for Rs 290 crore for the free ride scheme for women passengers in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and Delhi Metro trains.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the Finance portfolio, tabled a proposal under the supplementary demands for the grant of Rs 142 crore to fund deployment of marshals in buses and Rs 47 crore for the regional rapid transit system corridors and it has been approved by the Assembly with the voice vote.
Sisodia said the free-ride scheme would be implemented soon in the public transport buses, but it would take some time incase of metro trains as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had to make preparations for it.
Over all, the Delhi Assembly approved Rs 479 crore supplementary grants for the transport sector moved by the Finance Minister.
According to the supplementary grants tabled by the Minister, the Government has granted Rs 479 for Transport Department, out of which Rs 142 crore is for Road Safety Cell payment to marshals and Rs 140 crore for free travel for women in DTC buses and cluster buses, while Rs 150 crore has been granted for subsidy to DMRC for women commuters and Rs 47 crore for RRTS corridors.
Sisodia informed the Assembly that some procedural approvals are under process and once everything is finalised and the project will get a Cabinet nod, the Government will implement the scheme for buses.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his Independence Day address had announced that the AAP Government will implement the free ride scheme for women in DTC and cluster buses from October 29, marking the Hindu festival Bhai Dooj.
Under the RRTS, three corridors — Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Gurgaon-SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror) will converge at Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station.