Delhi approves 10% discount on using Metro card in DTC buses

NEW DELHI: To encourage use of public transport among commuters amid rising air pollution levels in the city, the Delhi Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal by which one can avail 10 per cent discount on using common mobility card (metro card) in DTC and cluster buses. The metro card usage started in DTC cluster buses on August 24. "This was necessary in view of rising air pollution to encourage more and more people to use public transport," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on January 8 launched a pilot project for implementation of Common Mobility Card, under which people can use metro cards in 200 DTC and 50 cluster buses. Subsequently, the Common Mobility Card scheme was fully rolled out on August 24, but without any discount. Sisodia was of the opinion that the use of metro cards in buses will not only curb pollution, but also limit expenditure of the government.

Using metro cards to realise the fares through Electronic Ticketing Machines will save costs that would otherwise be incurred on printing of tickets, stocking and then redistributing them, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister further appealed to the central government and the governments of Haryana and Punjab to initiate measures in the wake of deteriorating air quality in north India, including Delhi. "The Centre should intervene. Farmers have not been given subsidy. This is the failure on the part of the central government and state governments. As December and January is nearing, the entire north India, including Delhi, is close to becoming a gas chamber," he said.

Sisodia said the government since last year has made several efforts which improved Delhi's air quality and had requested the Centre as well as the governments of Punjab and Haryana to take measures in this regard, but despite assurances, the air quality has deteriorated.