NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced today, August 30, that the cabinet’s approval of issuance of single journey duration passes to women passengers in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses from October 29. Women can avail the free travel scheme voluntarily and the ticket checking system would be improved by the Delhi Integrated multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS) and DTC so that the scheme wouldn’t be misused. Women officials of the Delhi Government, local bodies and undertakings would not be entitled for transport allowance, in case they opt for free travel facility in DTC and cluster buses. The departments, local bodies, autonomous bodies will take an undertaking from their women staff to the effect that they are not availing the facility, he said.
The cabinet has already allocated a grant of Rs 290 crore for the free ride scheme for women in Delhi Metro and DTC buses at the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly. The budget would be split between the DTC and DMRC as Rs 140 crores and Rs 150 crores respectively.