Delhi Govt allocates Rs 18.67 billion less for transport in 2024-25

While presenting the budget in the Delhi Assembly, Finance Minister Atishi stated that the allotment for the 2024-25 fiscal year was Rs 74.70 billion, including Rs 57.02 billion for transport and Rs 17.68 billion for road and flyover projects in the national capital.

During his inaugural budget presentation, Minister Kailash Gahlot had proposed an allocation of over Rs 93.37 billion for transport, roads, and bridges for the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a decrease of Rs 95.39 billion from the 2022-23 financial year.

No new schemes were announced for the transport sector by the government.

Atishi mentioned that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has provided women in Delhi with the opportunity to travel for free on buses Rs 1.53 billion times from 2019 to the present, spanning just five years.

In her budget speech, Atishi stated, In the year 2014-15, when a girl from a common family wished to go to college for her studies, her parents would decline due to the high expenses of traveling. Many women were unable to work because a significant portion of their salary was spent on commuting.

For the first time in the history of the country, a bus journey for women was made completely free so that a woman can travel anywhere in Delhi confidently with her 'pink ticket' provided by her brother Arvind Kejriwal, without worrying about money, Atishi added.

Sharing statistics, Atishi mentioned that the number of 'pink tickets' has consistently increased over the past few years, reaching Rs 170.7 million in 2020-21 and escalating to Rs 400.2 million in 2022-23. Approximately 11 lakh women travel for free on the buses every day, she noted.

She also highlighted a significant rise in the number of buses.