Gopal Rai ready to quit if graft proved in bus scheme

After the Aam Aadmi Party’s ambitious app-based premium bus service scheme was red-flagged by lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, city transport minister Gopal Rai said on Monday he was “ready to go to jail,” if any corruption was proven in the scheme.

The service faced allegations by the Delhi BJP that a particular aggregator was being favoured by the AAP government.

“No corruption took place in this scheme. I am ready to go to jail if anyone proves corruption in the app-based premium bus service,” the city minister told reporters.

The Delhi government during the second phase of the odd-even scheme in April announced the premium bus service would be made operational from mid-June.

Registrations for the scheme were to start on June 1, but could not be launched because Mr Jung did not give his assent to the service and asked the transport minister to review it.

A complaint was filed with the anti-corruption branch by the BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, alleging that the city government was favouring an aggregator and no norms had been followed.

Mr Rai said he would visit the ACB office on Tuesday to answer Mr Gupta’s allegations. The city government led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is involved in serious showdown with the lieutenant-governor, with Mr Kejriwal accusing him of creating hurdles in the city development plans.