With the Assembly election due early next year in the capital city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced free Delhi Metro and DTC bus rides for women. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot earlier met senior Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials and asked them to submit a proposal in this regard.

The free ride scheme project will cost Rs 700 crore, CM Arvind Kejriwal said. "Right now our concern is the safety of women. There are questions regarding the metro, but we will let you know how the proposal evolves at every step," he added.

The Delhi government will bear all the expenses, and the scheme for free rides for women was announced at a press conference held in Delhi today.



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"On all DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains, women will be allowed to travel free of cost so that they have safe travel experience and can access modes of transport which they were not able to, due to high prices," he said during the press conference.

He also said that subsidy will not be imposed on anyone and the free ride scheme is voluntary.

He said that anyone who can afford these modes of transportation can buy their own tickets, so that it can benefit those who are in need of it.

"There are several women who can afford these modes of transport. Those who can afford can purchase tickets, they needn't take subsidy. We encourage those who can afford, to buy tickets and not take subsidy so that others could benefit," Arvind Kejriwal said.

Representational Image

According to reports, around 30 lakh people commute by the Delhi Metro on a daily basis and an official also said that it would be too difficult to calculate the revenue loss. The reports also say that people in the National Capital use buses more than the Delhi Metro. Around 42 lakh passengers commute by buses.

People on social media did not appreciate the move and criticised it. Take a look:

1.

#FreeMetroRides Working women want safe environment not a free DMRC metro ride

What do you think we are not capable enough to pay our bills

Understand diff between Equality & Equity#ArvindKejriwal #kuchbhi — Arika Bragta (@BragtaArika) June 3, 2019

2.

A better solution would have been to alternatively run women-only #metro trains. That would have made sense, at least revenue generation would not have suffered. A populist decision in desperation by a former IRS officer #DelhiMetro #freerides #freemetrorides — Amit Chaturvedi (@amittchaturvedi) June 3, 2019

3.

Here comes the Good news for Delhities and big surprise for male taxpayers.

Your money is going to be utilised soon.

Delhi Metro, bus rides likely to be free of cost for women.

This is next level of discrimination against men.

God save Indian men.#MENTOO pic.twitter.com/Kr6eMKOg2S — Vickram Bisyar (@BisyarVickram) June 2, 2019

4.

inequality kaha sir at the end family ki saving he ho rhi h free transport se.aur safety bhi rhegi — AnkurTiwari (@AnkurTiwaricryp) June 2, 2019

5.

Or Give them 60 free rides per month on Delhi Voter ID.

That will make sure that women don’t awail #FreeMetroRides for der job& notjust to b vid their boyfriends 😀

Delhi का CM दिल्ली के लोगों के betterment लिए है।दूसरे state वाले अपनी state में दिल्ली से प्रेरित हो कर काम करेंगे — Alka Sahu (@AggaAlka) June 2, 2019

6.

Wow Kejriwal Ji! What a move.

Is this the reaction you expect from Women in Delhi?

Sorry to disappoint you but please take a note,we don’t sell our votes for free metro and bus rides.

#DelhiMetro — Prerna Bhardwaj (@prernabhardwaj_) June 3, 2019

Nice move by the Delhi government!

Picture Credits: Twitter/Times Now