Govt flags off 100 new GPS-enabled cluster buses

Transport Minister Satyendar Jain and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas flagged off the cluster buses that will run in North, East and West Delhi.

With the introduction of smart features and starting the service on new routes, the government aims to provide a better travel experience to residents of the national Capital. 

A senior government official said that like other cluster buses, fares will be charged through e-ticketing machines (ETM) in new buses.

According to sources, the government will introduce an additional fleet of 800 buses in the next phase. Of these, 431 buses will be air-conditioned. This move will be in sync with the capacity building of new depots.

While drawing attention towards its plan of introducing 3,000 buses to promote the use of public transport among the public, Jain said the goal would be fulfilled within this financial year. “We aim to ramp up connectivity and frequency of bus services by integrating it with Metro, to retain the faith of the people in public transport. Therefore, trunk bus services – on major routes – and feeder bus services on metro routes will be provided by these buses,” said Jain.

“I congratulate the government functionary for this endeavor, which will make transport easier for commuters. The government should be appreciated for undertaking major measures and schemes which are people-friendly,” said Ramniwas Goel. 

According to government officials, the most prominent new-age features being in these cluster buses are – state-of-the-art GPS system and onboard e-ticketing facility to save time.

The buses will be operated under the Delhi Transport Corporation’s (DTC) concessionaire kilometre scheme. These buses, manufactured by Tata, have been bought by a private owner and given on hire to the transport department for Rs 41 per km. 

“Besides conforming to the urban bus specifications and safety tests, the buses are fitted with 41 ‘anti-vandalism’ seats and have a better seating arrangement, to ensure the comfort of passengers,” said an official. 

With the induction of these buses, the cluster fleet strength has gone up to 1,590 buses. They will largely be catering to North, East and West Delhi on eight additional cluster routes. These routes terminate at Mori Gate Terminal, Kamla Market, Ambedkar Nagar Terminal, Old Delhi Railway Station, Mayur Vihar Phase III Terminal, Inderpuri JJ Colony, Mori Gate Terminal and Shivaji Stadium Terminal. 

These buses will provide crucial connectivity to well-known hospitals, metro stations and traffic interchange hubs at ISBTs like Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan terminals.