The central government of India on Thursday denied having received any proposal from the Delhi government regarding the proposed free metro ride for women.
The Minister of State for the ministry of housing and urban affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri responded to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, stating that the Centre hasn’t received any proposal from the Delhi government for free Delhi Metro ride.
A few days back, in what appeared like a political gimmick to attract voters following a humiliating defeat on all 7 Lok Sabha seats, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that women be allowed to travel free of cost in all DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) buses, Cluster buses and metro trains in Delhi. He said that this has been to ensure that women can have safe travel experience, and access mores of transport which they were not able to do so due to high prices.
The Delhi CM had said that they will not require approval from anyone to implement this scheme. He also added that Delhi govt will bear the cost of the subsidy, as the centre didn’t agree to his proposal to not increase prices of metro tickets or to give 50% subsidy on raised ticket prices.
However, according to Minister of State for the ministry of housing and urban affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi CM Kejriwal had been misleading people with his claim that a proposal for a free Metro ride for women in Delhi was sent to the Centre for seeking approval.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, on the other hand, has maintained that the proposal was submitted by the Delhi Metro which is ‘in principle’ agreeable to Delhi government.
On our request, Del Metro has submitted its proposal. In principle, their proposal is agreeable to us. However, Delhi govt is studying its details.
I repeat that, as announced, Delhi govt is committed to provide free metro rides to women https://t.co/urD6haxePo
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 27, 2019
The Delhi Metro Corporation is jointly owned by Union Government and Delhi Government with 50% share each. As Delhi govt is paying the subsidy, it will not require permission from others for the scheme, Kejriwal had earlier claimed.
