The Delhi Government’s flagship scheme to provide free ride for female passengers in Delhi transport Corporation (DTC) buses is expected to get Cabinet’s clearance as the Government has readied mechanism for its implementation. The DTC has planned to issue special free ride passes on monthly basis for women.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced  ‘free ride scheme for women and girls in metro and buses’ in the last month itself. However, the free ride scheme for Delhi metro has hit the road block as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has reportedly conveyed it to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that the scheme will have to be first placed before the Fare Fixation Committee of Delhi Metro as per the Metro Act before its implementation.

“The DTC has submitted its plan for the free ride scheme proposal for buses to the transport minister and it is expected to be get nod from the cabinet in the next cabinet meeting,” said a government official.

The official further added that the DTC has decided to issue special free ride passes for the women passengers on the format of the other DTC monthly passes such as student passes. “Once approved, the scheme will be implemented within 15-20 days and the passes will be issued in the designated bus depots where monthly passes are issued.”

With the free ride passes, the women passengers can travel anywhere in the city but the pass is a must to travel in the buses. Those not carrying passes will have to buy tickets, said an official.

A total of 5500 buses both DTC and Cluster ply in the city and carry around 33 lakh passengers every day, out of which 25-30 percent are women and girls.