Metro feeder bus service in big mess

New Delhi: While Delhi Metro has been constantly upgrading its technology, its feeder service to provide last mile connectivity, laun-ched a decade ago, is still in a mess.

Initially, the Metro feeder buses were equipped with ticket vending machines (TVMs). With the passage of time, these machines malfunctioned and commuters were provided with manual tickets.

Now, commuters are not even provided any tickets as bus operators allege that they themselves have to get them printed.

“I was travelling from Anand Vihar to Dilshad Garden metro station and asked the conductor for ticket, but he simply refused and said there is no ticket as he is not having any ticket vending machine or manual printed ticket with him,” Sushal Kumar a resident of Dilshad Garden, said.

When asked, he said that “For the past two years, we neither had ticket vending machines  in the buses or printed tickets from the bus operators,” he added.

Similar practice of not giving the tickets to the commuters is in practice in Dilshad Garden, Mayur Vihar, Rohini, Chattarpur, Laxmi Nagar and the like.

“Since there is no proper bus facility, people are forced to take auto-rickshaws and cabs to reach their destinations. Due to this, we are often left with no option than to travel in a share autorickshaw,” said Amit Sharma, a commuter from Mayur Vihar phase-2.

The practice of not giving the tickets to the passengers in return for the fare paid by them has become a trend among the the feeder buses. If this trend were to continue, it can lead to a revenue loss. Also, there is no mechanism to put a stop to the illegal practice.

At present, 291 these buses are plying in Delhi. They are not authorised to ply in Delhi NCR. The concerned operators are responsible to main these buses. The DMRC has also purchased around 117 old mini non-AC feeder buses, which are being operated and maintained by private agencies/operators. Also, 174 mini non-AC buses are being operated on PPP model for procurement, operation and maintenance of the mini buses.

When asked about the ticket issue, a DMRC official said, “As per existing policy, revenue is collected and retained by the bus operator and no flying squad is assigned for ticket checking.

The Metro feeder buses are being operated on terms and conditions akin under stage carriage permits issued by the state transport authority, Delhi

In the past five years, the DMRC has received around 930 complaints regarding these buses.