Premium bus service was to establish monopoly of private bus

Continuing its attack on AAP government over its proposed premium bus service scheme, BJP today alleged that it was intended to establish "monopoly" of a private bus operator while "violating" rules and procedures.
"The government's approval for the app-based premium bus service scheme was in violation with the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act 1988, which allows such bus service to be launched for a short duration under extraordinary circumstances. But, in the present case, Kejriwal government has brought it for an indefinite period," BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters at a press conference.
She alleged that the government, through the scheme, was "handing over the entire transport department to a particular private service provider by which it was basically creating a monopoly and reducing competition which is not permitted."

The Delhi government had brought out notification for the app-based premium bus service on May 20. Under the scheme, one can book seats in premium buses through a mobile-app.
The scheme was scheduled to be launched from June 1, but it ran into rough weathers after Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) launched a probe on the complaint of BJP Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Vijender Gupta.
"This (scheme) is in complete violation of norms. Consultation with Law and Finance department did not happen for the scheme. Everything has been handed over to a private bus operator from deciding routes to fares," Lekhi alleged.

Delhi High Court, in its September 2013 order, had directed that it had to be informed about introduction of any new cluster bus service in the city but Kejriwal government "chose to ignore" even the court directions, she claimed.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal opposed surge pricing by app-based cab services but why did he allow the app-based bus service on the city roads, she asked.
"The Chief Minister is prepared to allow app-based bus service without any restriction on number of buses, number of bus routes or surge pricing."
Expressing concern over safety issue, she said, it (scheme) "reminded" her of "Nirbhaya case" and the Red- and Blue-line buses which were taken off roads due to high number of accidents and poor service.