All students in Delhi to get free bus pass
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government is going to make bus travel free for all students in the city.
At present, students are eligible for a special pass ranging between ₹100 and ₹150 per month to travel in all non-ac Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses. But the concessional rates are not applicable for students in AC buses.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the department is working on a proposal under which bus passes will be issued for free to school and college students on submission of their identification proof. “Under the new scheme, students will get to travel for free even in AC buses,” Gahlot said.
The minister said the proposal will soon be put up before the Cabinet for approval after which it will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor for his nod. The maximum age of a student who will be eligible for the free pass is yet to be decided.
Gahlot further said that a software is also being developed to make bus passes available online. “Currently, there are around 40 bus pass centres across the city and each month at least 1.5 lakh passes are issued under different categories. Soon, these passes will be made available on transport department’s website,” the minster said.
However, this is not the first time the Aam Aadmi Party government has proposed free bus travel. In January last year, the then transport minister Satyendar Jain had floated a bigger proposal to make bus journeys free for senior citizens, students up to 21 years of age, disabled persons, war widows, national award winners and freedom fighters.
Right now, a ride in a non-ac bus can cost anywhere between ₹5 and ₹15. The AC buses fares are between ₹10 and ₹25.
But, the plan could not go through as L-G Anil Baijal had returned the file seeking clarification on the proposal’s financial implication on DTC that is operating around 3400 buses in the capital. The DTC is the biggest loss making state owned bus operator in Delhi. In 2015-16 the company registered losses to the tune of ₹3,411 crore, against ₹2,917 crore in 2014-15.