Entire fleet of DTC buses in Delhi is 'overage', reveals data

The sight of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus parked by the side of city road is quite common for locals here but what may have made the sight this common is that every single bus in operation is reportedly above its ideal age of operation. Hindustan Times has accessed data from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which specifies that the maximum operational life of a low-floor CNG bus is 12 years or 750,000km, whichever is later. But such buses with DTC are running beyond the said timeline.

File photo: A DTC bus makes its way through a flooded street in Delhi.
File photo: A DTC bus makes its way through a flooded street in Delhi.

The report highlights that of the 3,760 buses in operation in Delhi, not a single bus is less than six years old. At least 32 are eight to 10 years old and as many as 3,072 are 10 to 12 years old. A sizable 656 buses are beyond 12 years of age.

This comes at a time when Delhi has a clear shortage of buses meant for public transportation. As per a government affidavit submitted to the high court, Delhi requires 11,000 buses to cater to the needs of locals here. At present and including around 3,000 cluster buses operated by private players, the figure is only around 6,700.

Also check these Vehicles

Find more Cars
Mahindra Ekuv100 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 8.25 - 10 Lakhs* *Expected Price
View Details
Mahindra S204 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 12 Lakhs *Expected Price
View Details
Rolls-royce New Ghost (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 6.95 - 7.95 Cr* *Expected Price
View Details
Ferrari Purosanguesuv (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 3 - 3.35 Cr* *Expected Price
View Details
Tata Safari 2023 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 16 - 24 Lakhs* *Expected Price
View Details
Mg 4 Ev (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 30 - 32 Lakhs* *Expected Price
View Details

The same report mentions that Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot, who is also the chairperson of DTC, has raised the issue in a recent board meeting of the corporation. "“Yes, it is true, and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also expressed concern as our state-run buses are the lifeline of Delhi’s public transport," he was quoted as saying. "Our DTC and cluster buses together carry at least one million passengers more than the Delhi Metro every day. So, we planned a revival of the DTC by pumping in 1,300 new buses in the next seven months."

A tender for 1,000 AC buses was finalized last year and two bidders received the contract. Allegations of irregularities, among other hurdles, continue to cast a shadow on the future of public buses in the capital city.

First Published Date: 26 Jul 2021, 09:46 AM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS
Shopping Bag Shop Now
1% OFF
Godrej aer O – Hanging Car Air Freshener | Car Accessories | Cool Aqua (7.5g)
Rs. 98 Rs. 99
70% OFF
VENO Portable High Power 2 in 1 Car Vacuum Cleaner | USB Rechargeable Wireless Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner Traveling, Camping Reusable and Sustainable (2 in 1 Vacuum Cleaner)
Rs. 899 Rs. 2,999
65% OFF
Ambrane 38W Fast Car Charger with Dual Output, Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery, Type-C & USB Port, Wide Compatibility for Smart Phones (RAAP C38 A, Black)
Rs. 349 Rs. 999
68% OFF
PUNZONE Car Body Scratch Remover - Scratch Repair Polishing Wax Kit Sponge Body Compound Cream Wax, Car Body Compound Scratch Remover
Rs. 289 Rs. 898

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers on

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Choose city
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy

Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.