New Delhi [India], January 17 : Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday that if the AAP government returns to power, male students in Delhi will be provided free bus services and a 50 per cent concession on metro fares.
“The AAP government prioritizes education. Many students, especially from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, miss out on education due to financial constraints. If we form the government again, male students will be able to travel for free on buses, just as female students currently do,” said Kejriwal.
Currently, Delhi offers free bus services for women on both AC and non-AC buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation.
Kejriwal also highlighted a letter he sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that students receive a 50 per cent discount on metro fares. “Many students rely on the metro in Delhi, but the cost has become burdensome. I’ve written to the Prime Minister, proposing that the Delhi Metro, a joint venture between the Delhi and Central governments, offer a 50 per cent discount for students. The costs incurred from this concession should be shared equally between both governments. This is a matter of public interest and not politics, and I hope the Prime Minister will accept this,” he added.
The AAP leader emphasized that students in Delhi heavily depend on the metro to commute to schools and colleges, and thus, reducing the financial burden on them is essential.
His announcement comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, with the vote count to be held on February 8. The AAP has already named candidates for all 70 assembly seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidates for 59 seats.