Jain meets LG Baijal after he returns file on bus fare

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 13

The government's file proposing to cut down Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus fares by 75 per cent has been returned by the new Lt Governor Anil Baijal, forcing the Transport Minister Sayendar Jain to meet him.

In the meeing, Jain is believed to have informed the LG as to why the government has proposed the steep reduction in fares.

This is the first proposal which has been objected by the new Lt Governor and sent back to the AAP government for reconsideration

Last year in December, Jain announced the decision to reduce fare for non-AC buses and AC buses to flat Rs 5 and Rs 10 respectively.

The file was sent to the LG for approval thereafter but Najeeb Jung resigned and after the new LG took over, the file said to be the first major proposal of the AAP government was sent back by Baijal for reconsideration on Wednesday.

The reason cited for its return is understood to be that the Finance department was not consulted before sending the proposal to the LG.

Baijal told the government to re-examine the financial aspects at a time when the DTC’s financial health is far from satisfactory.

Sisodia discusses coming Budget with Finance dept

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia today held a meeting with the officers and staff of the Finance, Planning and Statistics departments and announced the forthcoming Budget of the government in line with the national consensus on budgetary reforms to only have Capital and Revenue heads.

There would be no Plan, Non-Plan Budget segments from now on, said the AAP government.

Sisodia directed the officials of Finance, Planning and Statistics departments to develop constant evaluation and monitoring mechanism for entire government functions.

The Union budget to be presented in Parliament this year will pave the direction for budgetary reforms in setting long-term goals by doing away with the Plan and Non-Plan heads, said the government.