After women, the Delhi Government on Wednesday launched a scheme to give a "Free Bus Travel Pass” to all construction workers in the national Capital. The scheme will help construction employees reduce their travel costs within the city.
The scheme launched by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will benefit over 10 lakh construction workers which includes masons, painters, welders, carpenters, crane operators among others.
“Our construction workers are builders of the nation and play a crucial part in the country’s economic prosperity,” Sisodia said.
Sisodia on Wednesday also distributed 100 free passes to construction workers at a function held at the Delhi Secretariat. This is in addition to the 14 welfare programmes being run by the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (DBOCWWB). Delhi has 12 lakh construction workers, 10 lakh of whom are registered with the DBOCWWB.
Sisodia said that in Delhi, only a few construction workers get accommodation near their work site and a majority of them travel to the work site or labour chowk from the outskirts of the national Capital, which puts a major economic burden on them. To end their travel-related woes, the Kejriwal Government has launched the ‘Free Bus Travel Pass’ scheme for them in DTC buses across the city.”
Construction workers can register for free passes on the DTC’s website or at one of the 34 registration booths set up by DBOCWWB and the passes would be issued to them shortly. “They won’t have to do the rounds of offices to get the pass or waste their entire working day waiting in line,” added Sisodia.
He urged construction workers to assist other members of the community in registering with the DBOCWWB so that they, too, could take advantage of the Government welfare programmes.
“I travel from Narela to Gurugram for work by bus and Metro. It costs me Rs150-200 per day, which is nearly half of what I earn per day. In such a situation, I am unable to save for my family. A free travel pass from the Delhi Government will now assist me in saving for the future,” said Shahood Alam, a construction worker
Another construction worker, Mohammad Shamshad said, “I am a painter and POP worker. My everyday commute to work across the city costs me around Rs 3,600 per month. When I didn’t have enough money, I had to stay at the construction site. With this pass, I can now travel back home for free every day.”