Pay Mumbai commuters Rs 5,000 each as travel allowance, says BJP

This picture has been used for representational purpose

While the state government seems to be in no mood to allow the general public on board local trains anytime soon, the BJP has demanded that it should give commuters a travel allowance of Rs 5,000 each.

Party's chief spokesperson, Keshav Upadhye said on Monday that discontinuation of the suburban train services for the general public was causing great inconvenience and financial distress.

"Travelling by other modes of transport not only takes more time but is also costly compared to local trains. The pandemic has badly affected the finances of the common man, who is now beginning to wonder whether it is a ploy of the government to promote private transporters in the city," he said.

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He further added that the people of Mumbai and Thane had always extended their complete support to the Shiv Sena, but somehow it seemed that the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government was not bothered about the common man.

"It is the government's inefficiency in dealing with the pandemic and hence it is their responsibility to compensate the common people for closure of suburban railway travel," he said.

Upadhye further stated that the CM had said his government set aside '7,000 crore for the purchase of vaccines. "They should distribute the money among common people as travel allowance."