Acting partially on his earlier promise, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that rides on DTC and cluster buses will be free for women from October 29, which is celebrated as “Bhaiya Dooj”.

He made the announcement at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium.

“On the day of Raksha Bandhan, I want to give gift to our sisters that there will be free rides for women on all DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) and cluster buses from October 29, which will ensure their safety,” Kejriwal said.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal had on June 3 announced free metro rides and free bus rides for women in Delhi, in a populist move that came ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Kejriwal said, “On all DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains women will be allowed to travel free of cost so that they have a safe travel experience and can access modes of transport which they were not able to, due to high prices.”

The scheme is, however, voluntary and women can choose to pay for the travel.

At least 8.4 lakh women travel in buses and 7.5 lakh women take the Metro daily.

Kejriwal had said that the move was aimed at encouraging women to use public transport in view of their safety.

While implementing free travel for women in buses run by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Integrated Multi Modal System (DIMTS) is not a challenge, it will be difficult to do so in Delhi Metro.

The BJP has slammed the populist move saying that the CM was trying to deceive the people.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is providing free rides to women passengers today on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

The women passengers can avail the free rides from 8 am to 10 pm today. The free rides will be available in all AC and non-AC buses

In another major announcement on the 1st of August, Kejriwal had said that upto 200 units of electricity will be free in Delhi.

Under the “Free Lifeline Electricity” scheme, those people who consume up to 200 units of electricity need not pay their electricity bills, the Aam Aadmi (AAP) party chief announced.

Power consumed between 201 and 400 units will be at half price as the Delhi government will provide 50 per cent subsidy, he added.