New Delhi, Jan 7 : To provide relief to HIV positive people in the national capital, the Delhi government Thursday decided to provide them with below poverty line (BPL) cards which will give them access to subsidised ration and free bus rides.

The decision was taken in a Delhi State AIDS Council meeting chaired by Heath Minister Kiran Walia.

"The government has decided to provide BPL cards to HIV positive patients. Apart from giving subsidised ration, it will allow them and their attendants free travel in DTC buses to hospitals for checkup and treatment," said Walia.

The government is also talking with the Delhi Metro to provide free rides to such patients.

Walia said Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) Labs will soon be opened in four Delhi government's hospitals - GTB Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital - for conducting blood test to examine HIV infection.(IANS)