Now, before you read ahead, please have a look at the table.

Now, please note the following points:

– Delhi, in 2018, has the same number of buses that it had in 2009, whereas its population has grown exponentially.

– The number of people using Delhi buses in 2018 is less than those in 2011, simply because the buses aren’t there.

– While some of the increased transport requirements are being handled by the Metro, there is still a huge gap.

– Reducing bus numbers = increasing cars / 2-wheeler numbers = increasing pollution & worsening traffic.

– The Environment Pollution Control Agency indicated a requirement of 11000 buses in 2013, which was a 50% shortfall. That shortfall has now shot up to 73% in 2018.

– Free travel for women would add a massive burden onto the buses, which are already taking atleast twice the passenger load than they should.

– It would cost between 1000Cr & 1500Cr per year to subsidise the free travel of women.

– 1 new bus costs approx 1-1.25 Cr.

– We would be able to buy approx 1000 buses a year in the same amount as it costs to subsidise this travel.

– The last major purchases of buses happened way back in 2010-11.

Lastly, announcing free travel for women, barely 6 months before their term expires is a ridiculous display of loony politics. While this is expected from the likes of Kejriwal & AAP, I am amazed at the number of Delhi-ites who seem to be swallowing this fiscal & logistical stupidity.

Hope better sense prevails and the citizenry demand that this money be spent on buying new buses…