Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that women in Delhi can soon travel free on public transport. The move comes day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was wiped out in all seven Lok Sabha seats in the recent election.
The move, which is yet to be cleared by Government of India, will be launched in three months, said Kejriwal, adding that it would cost the Delhi government Rs. 700 crore this year. On whether he needed to run the plan by the GoI, given Delhi’s partial statehood status, he replied in the negative.
Officers have been given a week to prepare a detailed report after which a proposal will be brought in the cabinet, he said.
The Delhi Metro is partly run by the Government of India.
“Those who want to buy tickets are free to do so, they need not take the subsidy. Several women can afford these modes of transport. Those who can afford it, can buy tickets and forgo subsidy so others could benefit,” he explained.
The Delhi Chief Minister said his government would bear the cost of free rides for women on the Delhi Metro and public buses.
