New Delhi: The Delhi Cabinet on Thusday approved free rides for women on DTC buses as well as its cluster buses from October 29 in order to provide them with a safe travel experience. During the cabinet meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced that women can avail the free bus ride facility from October 29 onwards, which is also Bhai Dooj. "It would be a choice for the women travelling in DTC buses and cluster buses if they want to buy the ticket or they want to avail the free bus service. In case they want to buy the ticket, they can simply collect it from the conductor and if they want to avail the free service, they can get a single journey pass from the conductor and travel," said Gahlot.
"Single journey pass means that the passenger has to buy that pass every time she boards the bus. This service has been introduced in order to provide women with safe travel experience," Gahlot added.
The Delhi Assembly had on Monday approved additional grant of Rs 479 crore for the Transport Sector, which includes funds to provide subsidy for free rides for women in DTC buses. The supplementary grant for the transport sector was moved by Finance Minister Manish Sisodia and includes Rs 140 crore for free transport for women by buses. "Rs 90 crore was kept for DTC buses while Rs 50 crore was kept for cluster buses to provide subsidy to female riders," the proposal said.
On June 3, CM Kejriwal announced that his government is planning to roll out a free travel scheme for women in Delhi metro and DTC. He said the Delhi government will provide subsidy for free travel to women in DTC buses, cluster buses and Delhi Metro in the national Capital. It is pertinent to mention that out of the total estimated budget, Rs 140 crore has been earmarked for DTC buses while Rs 150 crore has been set aside for Delhi Metro. The proposal for free metro ride is still under process as it includes several technicalities, he added.
On August 15, Kejriwal announced that women commuters will be able to travel free of charge on DTC and cluster scheme buses starting October 29. The facility will be available in both AC and non-AC buses.