CM flags off 150 e-buses, calls it a milestone in govt.’s fight against pollution

BJP criticises AAP govt. for not acknowledging Centre’s contribution 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged off 150 electric buses here on Tuesday describing the event as a landmark step in the Delhi government’s fight against pollution.

“It is a momentous day in Delhi’s history — 150 new electric buses have been added to the [Delhi Transport Corporation] DTC fleet and will hit the roads today. We flagged these buses off and even went for a ride in one of them. These buses are highly impressive, beautifully built, and extremely comfortable to travel in,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

“I believe today is a milestone in Delhi’s ongoing battle with pollution. This launch has marked the beginning of a new era in the transport sector, ushering in the age of more and more electric buses to hit Delhi’s roads and curb pollution on a large scale,” the Chief Minister also said.

However, the event was marked by a political spat between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with the former accusing the Delhi government of stealing credit for the induction of the new vehicles which were subsidised by the Centre under its “FAME-2” scheme.

Amit Malviya, BJP national information and technology department in charge, tweeted on Tuesday: “Arvind Kejriwal has announced free bus ride for 3 days on the 150 new e-buses. But what he hasn’t told you is that these buses have been provided by the Modi govt. under the FAME-2 program. Typical of Kejriwal to take credit for initiatives of the central govt…”

Former Delhi BJP president and Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta also criticised the Delhi CM for “presenting the e-buses provided to Delhi by the Modi government” as an achievement of his own government. 

“AAP government has offered three days of free rides on the e-buses, which were allotted to Delhi by the Modi government under its FAME 2 scheme,” Mr. Gupta said.