Under Arvind Kejriwal's Guidance, Delhi's 'Free Bus' Service Becomes a Boon for Women; Here's How Commercial Vehicle Drivers Will Get Major Relief

Arvind Kejriwal: Life has become easier for women in Delhi. They can now travel for free on buses. Whether going to work, shopping, visiting relatives, or just for leisure, women no longer have to spend on travel. There's now some savings in their wallets, thanks to free bus rides and the pink tickets. This has made a real difference in their lives. Public transport owners are also seeing a positive impact. The fee for public transport permits has been waived, which is another relief.

How Free Bus Travel Leads to Significant Savings – Yearly Savings of 1.24 Lakh Rupees

A female clerk, Lajwanti, used to travel by metro to her office but now takes the free bus. She saves 120 rupees every day on her commute. In 26 days (assuming four holidays in a month), her monthly savings amount to 3,120 rupees. Over a year, this comes to 37,442 rupees. Lajwanti is very happy with this savings. This is the direct saving that every woman commuting daily is experiencing due to the free bus service.

Gurmeet Kaur, a nurse, used to travel by auto, but now she uses the free bus. She saves 400 rupees every day on her commute. In a month, her savings total 10,400 rupees, which adds up to a yearly saving of 1,24,800 rupees. Gurmeet finds this savings invaluable for her family.

Architect Manvi, who used to take the metro or auto, now saves an average of 8,000 rupees a month by traveling for free on the bus. This results in an annual saving of 96,000 rupees, which she also finds significant. The savings vary for women across different social classes, but the free bus has saved money for all. Every woman’s purse is benefiting, and it has had a positive effect on every household.

1,500 Crore Worth of Pink Tickets Sold in a Year

According to the Delhi government’s data, 150 crore pink tickets were sold in the last five years. At 10 rupees per ticket, this means the government has provided a subsidy of 1,500 crore rupees. This subsidy has directly contributed to savings in women's homes. A survey by Greenpeace shows that 75% of women believe their monthly transport expenses have reduced. Of this savings, 55% of women have used it for household expenses, while half of them have set aside the savings for emergencies. Clearly, women have merged savings for both emergency and domestic needs.

Mohalla Buses Will Bring More Change

While the free bus service has provided savings and safety for women, the issue of security persists after they get off the bus, especially during odd hours, as they have to walk a long distance to their homes. To address this, the Delhi government has launched Mohalla buses. 140 Mohalla buses are already on the roads, each with a capacity of 36 passengers. The buses can transport 5,040 passengers in one trip, and with 10 trips a day, they can carry 10,08,00 passengers. The security and convenience of these buses are clearly evident.

The Delhi government’s bus fleet now stands at 7,683 buses, but the need is for 11,000 buses. The current shortage of buses has caused inconvenience for passengers, but the government claims that by 2025, all the required buses will be operational, resolving these issues.

Public Transport Drivers Save 30,000 Rupees in Five Years

Delhi has 2.5 lakh public transport vehicles, including around one lakh autos. Previously, these vehicles had to pay an annual fee of 1,416 rupees for location tracking devices, but this fee has been waived. In 2019, the government also removed the 200-rupee fitness fee for autos, reduced late fees to 20 rupees, and slashed registration fees from 1,000 to 300 rupees. The fee for duplicate RC was reduced from 500 to 150 rupees, and the additional charges for hire purchases were brought down from 1,500 to 500 rupees. The fitness certificate fee, which was 2,500 rupees, is now only 500 rupees. These measures have led to savings of more than 5,500 rupees annually for auto and taxi drivers. When combined with the savings over the last five years, the total comes to 27,500 rupees.

The Delhi government’s transport policies have created significant savings for common people and those involved in the transport sector. This has improved their lives and boosted their confidence. Perhaps this is why many have a soft corner for the current Delhi government.