Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 | Last Update : 04:27 PM IST
Delhi: Bus ridership falls as more and more people buy own cars
In fact, since 2011, not a single bus has been added to Delhi roads, said the survey.
New Delhi: A recent study by Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has found that the bus fleet ridership in Delhi has declined over the years as private vehicles keep on increasing on Delhi roads.
The study takes into picture the ridership records obtained from Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) since 2005-06 till November last year. According to the trend observed during that period, the ridership in DTC buses has been on a decline for most part of the decade. As per the report, while in the year 2005-06, there was a ridership of 30.52 lakh in DTC buses, it decreased to 26.77 lakh the next year and further to 24.04 and 22.61 in 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively.
The ridership, however, increased from 2009-10 till 2012-13, when it peaked to its maximum in the period to 46.77 lakh, before decreasing to 43.47 lakh in 2013-14.
EPCA, a Supreme Court monitored committee, which was formed to monitor pollution control actions in Delhi had done the study to highlight that unless the public transport system in the national capital is strengthened, people won’t be discouraged from using private vehicles, thus adding to the pollution load in the city. In the year 2014-15, the ridership fell down significantly to 38.87 lakh and further to 35.37 lakh in 2015-16 and to 30.33 lakh in November 2016.
In fact, since 2011, not a single bus has been added to Delhi roads.
EPCA member Sunita Narain also said that Delhi has 21 per cent land area under roads, out of which 95 per cent is occupied by private vehicles.
Meanwhile, just a day before Diwali, the air quality index for Delhi was at “very poor” level at 302. A Graded Action Response Plan (GARP) came into force in Delhi on Tuesday.
Some of the measures under the plan like banning of diesel generator sets in Delhi and shutting down of Badarpur Power Plant came into force from Tuesday. If the air quality continues to remain ‘very poor’, it could trigger an increase in parking fee for vehicles by three to four times, as per GARP.
