Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday in a bid to provide safer travel experience to women has announced free rides to them in Delhi Metro, DTC Buses and Clusters Buses. Addressing a press conference, AAP National Chief and Delhi Chief Minister said that, ‘Women in the national capital can travel free of cost in Delhi Metro and all buses so that they have a safer traveling experience.
He further added that now they have access to public transport which they can not because of high pricing.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: On all DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains women will be allowed to travel free of cost so that they have a safe travel experience and can access modes of transport which they were not able to, due to high prices. pic.twitter.com/KVqEWDIJAS
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019
Adding that the decision will be implemented in the next three months, Kejriwal said we have given a week time to officials to prepare a report on how this can be implemented.
‘We’re also seeking suggestions from people, regarding implementation’, Kejriwal added.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: I've given one-week time to officials to make a detailed proposal – for both DTC & metro – on how & when can this be implemented. We're making an effort to start this within 2-3 months. We're also seeking suggestions from people, regarding implementation pic.twitter.com/56veDUj9nz
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019
Asserting that the scheme will be for those who can not afford high prices, Delhi Chief Minister said, ‘There are several women who can afford these modes of transport. Those who can afford can purchase tickets, they need not take subsidy’.
‘We encourage those, who can afford, to buy tickets and not take subsidy so that others could benefit’, Kejriwal said as quoted by ANI.
Delhi CM: Subsidy won't be imposed on anyone. There are several women who can afford these modes of transport. Those who can afford, can purchase tickets, they needn't take subsidy. We encourage those, who can afford, to buy tickets¬ take subsidy so that others could benefit. https://t.co/QHtqfvBjiR
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019
Slamming the Centre, Kejriwal said earlier the Delhi Government has asked the Central Government not to increase the prices of tickets, but they did not agree.
He added, ‘We told them we have 50-50 partnership, let’s give 50-50 subsidy on raised prices, they didn’t agree. Delhi government will bear the fare of what we’re going to do. We need not take approval for this’.
Delhi CM: Initially we'd told Centre not to increase prices of tickets, they didn't agree. We told them we've 50-50 partnership, let's give 50-50 subsidy on raised prices, they didn't agree. Delhi govt will bear the fare of what we're going to do.We needn't take approval for this pic.twitter.com/4nlPbkUf9k
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019
The move is seen as an attempt to reach out to women voters ahead of Delhi State Polls. It came days after party’s poll debacle in the recently held national polls 2019.
The party could only win a single seat of Sangrur out of the 40 Lok Sabha Seats contested in 8 States.
The bigger embarrassment for the party is its humiliating defeat in the national capital where it had in 2015 Assembly polls won 67 seats in 70 member assembly. Results of national polls came to AAP as a big setback who lost all 7 Lok Sabha Seats in the national capital. The party slips to the third spot in 5 seats while 3 of its candidate in the national capital lost their deposits.
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