Sr. citizens get free travel facility in DTC

It seems, the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejrival is leaving behind the Congress and BJP, the two major national parties which ruled Delhi for several decades in terms of declaring sops or say concessions to Delhi citizens in order to stage a come back next time as well at the helm of state power.

The announcement by the Delhi government’s transport minister Rajesh Gehlot providing entirely free travel to the senior citizens of Delhi in the already massive loss running organisation’s buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation on eve of the completion of three years of AAP in Delhi under the leadership of Arvind Kejrival as CM unambiguously speaks of the fact that the party created out of Anna’s movement is leaving no stone unturned to make the Delhi citizens happy with its several pro people decisions in order to return to power next time as well.

The Delhi elections are due for 2020. The senior citizens of Delhi, above sixty years already had the cheapest pass facilities for both the AC and non AC buses but now giving free travel facility to the senior citizens Kejrival has undoubtedly won their hearts hands down. Prior to these concessions, the AAP government had recently announced free treatment to Delhites in good number of private hospitals irrespective of the economic status including already given concessions in water and electricity tarrifs.

The free distribution of medicines in all Delhi government hospitals, dispensaries and polyclinics with free expensive tests have also given advantage to Arvind Kejrival in the poor, underprivileged and economically deprived catagories of the society. The upgradation of Delhi government schools and free dostribution of books and stationeries to students with mid day meal option has also enhanced the AAP’s image politically. At present Delhi Transport Corporation has the fleet of around 4000 buses where as the requirement is of 11000 buses.

About one lakh buses are likely to join the DTC fleet in the near future. In the absence of adequate buses in various Delhi routes the working class commuters and those hailing from the lower middle class are suffering badly in view of the arbitrary fare increase in Delhi metro with minimum fare as Rs. 20 and maximum Rs 50 of one side destinations. Delhi has a population of about 1.25 crores and merely 4000 buses of DTC is hardly a match to the population of the capital where more than fifty percent commuters still depend on cheap transport like DTC.
SUNIL NEGI