Govt sets aside Rs 290 crore for free ride to women

New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly passed the government’s supplementary demand for grant of Rs 290 crore for free travel for women passengers in buses and Metro trains.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has tabled a proposal of supplementary demands for grant of Rs 142 crore to fund deployment of marshals in buses and Rs 47 crore for the regional rapid transit system corridors, which were approved with a voice of votes.

According to the supplementary demands for grants tabled by Mr Sisodia, while the government has set aside Rs 140 crore for free travel for women in the DTC buses and cluster buses, for Metro trains the amount is Rs 150 crore.

In his Independence Day address, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that rides on DTC and cluster buses would be free for women from October 29.

Mr Sisodia said the free-ride scheme would be implemented soon in the public transport buses, but it would take some time in case of Metro trains as the DMRC has to make preparations for it.

Meanwhile, the Arvind Kejriwal government is all set to fulfil another of its poll manifestos and has floated, on Monday, tenders for installing 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras in the second phase.

“The work of setting up of 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras across the city, whose tender was floated in the first phase, is underway,” PWD minister Satyendra Jain informed the Delhi Assembly during the Monsoon Session.

The proposed 2.8 lakh CCTV cameras will be installed within one year, said the minister participating in a brief discussion on the last day of the Monsoon Session.

The PWD minister said the work of installing 1.4 lakh 4 GB and WiFi-enabled cameras is underway.

Mr Sisodia said CCTV cameras have not only ensured the safety of women, but also instilled fear in the minds of law breakers and strengthened law and order in the city.