Delhi Budget: CM Introduces Smart Cards for Women’s Free Travel on DTC Buses

New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) In an effort to transform Delhi into a world-class capital boasting the largest electric public transportation bus fleet, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced an allocation of Rs 12,952 crore to enhance the city's overall transport system in the 2025-26 Budget.

While presenting a budget with a total outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore in the Assembly, the CM revealed a new initiative to provide smart cards for women, allowing them to travel for free on public transport buses. This announcement came as a response to the Rs 14,000 crore loss reported by the DTC in a CAG audit.

She criticized the previous government's handling of women's free travel, stating, "There was a pink ticket scam in the former administration."

In addition, Rs 2,929 crore was allocated for Delhi Metro projects, emphasizing that the former AAP government had neglected to pay off a Rs 6,000 crore debt owed to the Centre for Phase IV of the Metro.

Furthermore, she committed to establishing 12 new air quality monitoring towers and 32 water quality monitoring centres within the next year.

As part of fulfilling the BJP's electoral pledge of Rs 2,500 monthly support for women, CM Gupta earmarked Rs 5,100 crore for the Mahila Samridhi Yojana (MSY), a key promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Assembly elections campaign, which the BJP won after 27 years.

To combat waterlogging and subsequent traffic disruptions, she allocated Rs 603 crore for drain cleaning initiatives. Additionally, she announced a Rs 30-crore Integrated Command and Control Centre to manage public complaints with a focus on 'perform, reform and transform'.

In support of Delhi's farmers, the CM declared an annual payment of Rs 9,000 for growers, which includes Rs 6,000 from the Centre under the PM Kisan scheme and a Rs 3,000 top-up from the Delhi government, with Rs 5 crore allocated for this top-up.

During her inaugural Budget presentation in the Delhi Assembly, the Chief Minister also provided relief to senior citizen associations, which had not received grants for the past four years, by allocating Rs 20 crore to these organizations and promising to clear their dues and enhance their annual funding.

Moreover, she dedicated Rs 210 crore for the nutrition of pregnant women.

CM Gupta also announced plans to establish 500 Anganwadis and allocated Rs 50 crore for this initiative, along with Rs 206 crore for upgrading 1,000 Anganwadis, which serve as daycare facilities for the children of low-income working women.

For working women, the CM introduced the Sakhi Niwas Yojana to increase hostel facilities, raising the number of existing hostels from 14 to 16.

She also allocated Rs 5 crore to enhance skills for the homeless individuals residing under flyovers who need support during severe weather conditions.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister is dedicated to empowering farmers and rural residents, announcing the revival of the Rural Development Board with Rs 1,157 crore designated for projects within the city’s villages.

A welfare board for gig workers and construction laborers was also proposed by the Chief Minister in this budget.