DTC may hire buses for 17 interstate routes; EV bus to ply on Delhi-Dharuhera route next month

New Delhi, Nov 19 (PTI) The Delhi government is planning to hire buses for long routes, such as Ayodhya and Rishikesh, even as it gears up to launch its third interstate bus route from Delhi to Dharuhera in Haryana next month.

The Delhi Transport Corporation has already started interstate bus services on two routes — Delhi to Baraut (Uttar Pradesh) and Delhi to Sonipat (Haryana).

"We have a target of starting service on one route every month. The government is already plying electric buses on these two routes. Next month, we plan to launch the third route — Delhi to Dharuhera in Haryana," said an official and added that meetings have been held with stakeholders concerned in this regard.  "Electric buses will ply on the route. These are equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, (and) GPS. There will be a total of 12 trips daily in the morning and evening hours for commuters," shared the official.

Earlier this year, the DTC approved a plan to introduce 100 electric interstate buses on 17 routes.

Speaking about the next phase of the rollout, wherein buses will be introduced for longer routes, the official said the initial plan to use electric buses for all routes had been revised.

“It is not feasible to ply electric buses to far-off locations because of the lack of charging infrastructure. We plan to take buses on a wet-lease model, wherein a concessionaire will come on board and operate the buses for us. These will be BS-VI compliant buses,” the official added.

He said the DTC is currently looking for a concessionaire to operate the buses. The revenue-sharing model with the concessionaire will be finalised once the agreement is in place.

The DTC has shortlisted 17 destinations for the interstate service. These include Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun in Uttarakhand; Panipat in Haryana; Ayodhya, Lucknow and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh; and Amritsar, Chandigarh and Jammu.

The long-route buses will be 12 metres long, air-conditioned, and equipped with luggage space, he said. Regarding fares, the official said they will be finalised once the concessionaire is on board.

“The fares will be economical and lower than those of most buses currently operating on these routes,” he added.

The DTC’s interstate bus service had come to a halt in 2010 following the transition of its fleet to CNG and the limited availability of the fuel in other states. PTI SLB AMJ AMJ