Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi’s chief minister, warned DTC bus drivers on Thursday that they would face severe consequences if they failed to stop for women. This warning comes after a bus driver was punished based on a video that surfaced. The driver did not stop for a woman who was utilizing the free bus travel programme for women that was introduced by the AAP in 2019.
Kejriwal said that there have been several incidents where DTC bus drivers did not stop their buses for women because the fare is free. He made it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated, and drivers who fail to stop for women will face severe consequences.
The Delhi Chief Minister also announced during a press conference that private aggregators would be allowed to operate luxurious buses for middle-class and upper-middle-class commuters. However, there will be no provision for free transit for women on these buses. The aggregators will determine the fares, but the fare for a specific route must be more expensive than DTC’s.
These upscale buses will have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, GPS, CCTV, and a panic button. Kejriwal wants to ensure that women are safe while using public transportation and that they are not discriminated against because of their gender.
