The taxpayer will pay over Rs. 11,000 for each of the nine MPs who took public transport to reach the Parliament on Monday.
This, despite the fact that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi government was mulling over paying for the service provided by its buses to MPs, according to Delhi government sources.
On Tuesday, however, the DTC will operate just two buses under the scheme.
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Six Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses which were converted to MP Specials to ferry even number car-owning MPs here on the first day of Parliament serviced a total of nine MPs throughout the day: eight in the morning and one in the evening after both Houses of Parliament adjourned.
The arrangements — two MP Special buses each from North Block and South Block and one each from Akbar Road and Ashoka Road — were made in view of the fact that MPs do not enjoy exemption from the restrictions of the odd-even vehicle rationing policy which will be in force in the Capital till April 30. Transport Minister Gopal Rai, who met Vice-President Hamid Ansari over the issue on Monday evening, urged MPs to follow the provisions of the scheme, on the heels of announcing the government's decision to return four of the six buses to the DTC on Tuesday.
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“They (MPs) have the option to travel by DTC buses or carpool. Some MPs today travelled by bus and I hope a majority of them will consider the odd-even to be good, and will follow it by taking buses or carpooling,” Mr. Rai said adding that commuting by public transport would help MPs set an example to the public.
The Delhi Transport Minister also said MPs could no longer be added to the list of exempted categories since it was not possible to amend the notification.