The Delhi government has announced that it will provide free bus passes to construction workers in Delhi. The proposed programme will assist construction employees in reducing their costs associated with work-related travel within the city. This is in addition to the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board’s 14 existing welfare programmes for construction workers.
People working at several construction sites in Delhi used to pay for the bus services, so around Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 was wasted on commute alone.
Sisodia said, “In Delhi, only a few construction workers get accommodation near their worksite, while many others travel to the worksite or labour chowk from the outskirts of the national capital. This comes with a heavy price that they have to pay while travelling for work. To end the travel-related woes of construction workers, the Kejriwal government has launched a free bus travel pass scheme for them. Now they will get free passes and rides to work on DTC buses all across the city.”
Providing a relief to the construction workers, Sisodia also distributed free passes to some of them at the Delhi Secretariat.
Kalkaji MLA Atishi, who was also present, said, “After women, now DTC bus rides have been made free for construction workers too. This will help them save Rs 1500-2000 per month, which was spent on travel earlier, and they will be able to support their families better now.”
Delhi has 12 lakh construction workers, 10 lakh of whom are registered with the DBOCWWB.
Sisodia added that construction employees can register for passes on the DTC website or at one of the 34 registration booths set up by the construction worker’s welfare board, and passes will be issued shortly after.