Delhi cabinet approves free travel for women in buses from 29 October

New Delhi: Months ahead of assembly elections, the Delhi cabinet on Thursday approved free travel for women in buses in the national capital. The scheme, announced by chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, will be effective 29 October.

The Delhi Assembly on Monday approved a supplementary grant of ₹479 crore for the transport department. Of this, the assembly approved ₹140 crore subsidy for free travel for women in buses and ₹150 crore as subsidy for free travel in the Delhi metro.

“Congratulations! Delhi Cabinet has approved free travel to female passengers in DTC and cluster buses effective from 29.10.19. Single Journey Pass will be available with the conductors. Revolutionary step by CM Arvind Kejriwal for safety and security of Women in Delhi,” Kailash Gahlot, Delhi transport minister said.

There will be a single-journey pass issued by the conductor for women travellers. The scheme is voluntary and women travelers can choose to not avail the plan.

In June, Kejriwal announced free travel for women in the metro and buses in Delhi. However, with the delay in approval for free travel in metro, the AAP government has decided to go ahead with offering free travel to women in buses in the national capital.

The Delhi cabinet also approved funding for 100 Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes students each year, enabling them to pursue post-graduate studies.

“This will be applicable for those families who have an income of up to ₹8 lakh. The government will give up to ₹20 lakh to students going for their PhD for four years and ₹10 lakh for students going for two-year courses. There will be a committee formed and applications will have to be done online,” social welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said.

The term of the Delhi assembly ends in February. In the run-up to assembly election, the AAP-led government has announced a slew of measures to woo the voters of the national capital.