Wednesday, May 01, 2024 | Last Update : 12:00 AM IST
Stuck files delay plan to procure 3,000 buses in Delhi
The government viewed mini and midi-buses as an alternative to low-floor buses that occupy more road space.
New Delhi: Delhiites may have to wait for new bus services as the Delhi government’s ambitious plan to 3,000 mini and midi buses on city roads is in jeopardy. A file pertaining to the plan has been making rounds of offices for the last six months as officials concerned have raised objections to the feasibility of the plan, sources said.
The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has a fleet over 4,200 buses — ferrying nearly 35 lakh passengers every day. Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) – a joint venture between Delhi government and IDFC Limited — oversees operation of some 1,600 orange-coloured non-AC buses. Delhi government had earlier proposed a plan outlay of Rs 325 crore for purchase of buses development of bus terminals. Sources said that barely 200 buses have been added to the city’s roads in the last four years because manufacturers were unable to provide low-floor buses within the time frame set by the government. “Due to huge shortage of buses in the city, the government was planning to rollout 3,000 mini and midi buses under cluster scheme. But the file pertaining to procurement of these buses are making rounds in different departments for the last six months,” sources said.
The government viewed mini and midi-buses as an alternative to low-floor buses that occupy more road space. Manufacturers of low-floor are saying that they would not be able to provide 1,000 low-floor buses by the end of next year, sources said.
Despite a string of government schemes and tenders, no new buses have been added to the DTC’s ailing fleet in the last several years. Since 2013, the DTC had three failed tenders to procure buses.
“The government will procure 1,000 new standard size UBS-II complaint low-floor non-AC buses during 2016-17. At present, 1,490 cluster buses are operation in Delhi and it is proposed to add 1,000 new buses under the cluster scheme in 2016-17. Our government would also introduce 1,000 buses in premium category through a purely market driven model,” deputy CM Manish Sisodia had said.
