Anurag Dhanda: A political controversy has erupted in Delhi over the procurement of bicycles under the city government’s scheme for girl students, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleging financial and procedural irregularities in the purchase process.
The allegations have drawn attention after AAP leader Anurag Dhanda claimed on social media that a news report had exposed “every layer” of an alleged bicycle procurement scam and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government of misusing public money. The claims, however, remain political allegations and should not be treated as an established finding of wrongdoing without an official investigation.
The controversy centres on the Delhi government’s Vidya Vahini bicycle programme, under which bicycles are being provided to Class IX girls studying in government schools. The scheme was announced as part of the 2026–27 Delhi Budget, with the government initially planning to cover around 1.30 lakh students. The reported budget allocation for the programme is ₹90 crore.
Anurag Dhanda: What Is the Bicycle Scheme?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government has described the programme as an education and mobility initiative aimed at helping girls travel to school more easily. In July, the government said the procurement process had begun and that bicycles were arriving in batches.
The government subsequently announced that the first phase of the Vidya Vahini programme would involve the distribution of 3,000 bicycles, with around 1.40 lakh bicycles eventually being distributed to schoolgirls across Delhi in phases.
The initiative follows earlier bicycle-distribution events involving girl students. In March, Gupta distributed bicycles to around 1,100 girls in Shalimar Bagh, describing improved mobility as a way to support girls’ education.
