Ggn to introduce Rs500 buses' by December

In order to improve the public transportation system in the city, an agreement letter has been signed between the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA)

and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) to increase the number of buses in the city to around 500.

The buses will be operational from December onwards and will include air-conditioned as well as normal.

At present, there are around 50 Haryana Roadways buses that are operational in the city.

Not only are the services of buses in the city are inadequate for the commuters but poor maintenance and continuous breakdown of them has resulted in further inconvenience for citizens in Gurugram.

The poor transportation system in the city has resulted in the residents relying on other forms of transports like shared autos, private local buses or using their private vehicles.

Lack of effective public transportation has also resulted in the increase in illegal cabs plying regularly in the city.

Preparations have begun by the GMDA officials to find the bus depots where the buses will be parked.

Four bus depots have been chosen by the public officials for this purpose.

The areas considered as depots are 13.5-acres in Kadipur, 4.6-acres in Sector 53, 12-acres in Sector 33 and three acres near Central Mall in MG road.

While the present bus stand in the city has been declared unviable for operations by the district administration, lack of a new bus depot has resulted in the bus stand in the city still functional.

"In order to enhance the public transportation system in the city, our officials in collaboration with DIMTS will be adding more city buses in the city.

Our officials have already got in touch with other city agencies for the lands that can be used for setting up of the bus depots. From December onwards, we hope that the new set buses will start beginning operations in the city.

For better management of city buses there are also plans to set up Gurugram Metropolitan Transportation Authority,"

said V Umashankar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for GMDA.