New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that free Wi-Fi facility would soon be provided in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.
"Delhi government will provide free Wi-Fi facility in DTC buses as soon as possible. In this connection, we are in touch with some big companies," he told thousands of DTC employees at an awards ceremony at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium here. Transport Minister Gopal Rai and DTC managing director C.R. Garg were also present.
Several leading Internet and telecom sector companies, including Google, Facebook and Ericsson, held discussions with the Kejriwal led-Delhi government, regarding its ambitious city-wide free Wi-Fi project last Friday.
Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, also announced the allowance of contractual DTC bus drivers, who drive up to 2,250 km in a month, would be hiked from Rs.4 to Rs.5 per km, while those who drive more than 2,250 km in a month would be provided Rs.6 per km instead of the earlier allowance of Rs.5 per km.
"With this, on an average, the salary of contractual drivers will be enhanced in the range of Rs.2,500 to Rs.4,500 per month," he noted.
Out of 43 DTC depots in the capital, the chief minister felicitated the 10 best performing depots at the awards function.
The depots which received the award include Ghazipur Depot, Millennium Depot-IV, Hari Nagar Depot-I, Hari Nagar Depot-II, BBM Depot-I, Nangloi Depot, Ghummanhera Depot, Wazirpur Depot, Ambedkar Nagar Depot and Rohini Depot-IV.
These depots were selected according to their performance during the period from May 16 to June 15, 2015 as compared to the same period of previous year.
Kejriwal also urged all DTC employees to do their duty with full devotion and honesty so that people of Delhi are provided reliable and comfortable transport service.
He also suggested the DTC authorities to adopt a suggestion box system in which any employee could drop their ideas for improving performance.
Rai said that the total earning of DTC has been increased in few months.
"Between March and August 2015, the total earning of DTC has increased by Rs.7,11,62,835. In March 2015, the total earning of DTC was Rs.68,52,85,378 whereas in August it became Rs.75,64,48,213," he said.
"This government is your (employees) government and is committed for your welfare. AAP government was the first goverment to announce Rs.10 lakh compensation for the family of a DTC driver who was beaten to death few months back," he noted.
Rai also said that keeping in view the safety of commuters, specifically women, 1,500 marshals had been deployed in DTC buses.
CCTV cameras have already been installed in 200 buses, and the work for installing them in remaining low floor buses is under process, he added.
