App-based bus service to be allowed on Delhi roads

On the line of private companies such as Ola and Shuttl, the transport department of Delhi is working on a policy where they will allow the aggregator to take permit and run buses.

To strengthen Delhi’s public transport, the government will soon allow private operators to run buses on commercial routes in the Capital. On the line of private companies such as Ola and Shuttl, the transport department of Delhi is working on a policy where they will allow the aggregator to take permit and run buses.

The passengers can download the app and book a seat for the route they want to travel on through the app. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

These buses are currently running without any permit and like the app-based taxi, they are not controlled by any government agency. The passengers can download the app and book a seat for the route they want to travel on.

“Like app-based taxis, these buses are plying illegally. But they provide comfort to the commuters so they prefer travelling on these buses. Instead of banning them, we are planning to legalise them. Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), think-tank of the Delhi government, has asked Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) to finalise the policy within a week,” said a Delhi government official.

Currently, these buses provide to and fro connectivity from Metro stations, mostly in Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad. Some of these also ferry workers from Gurgaon to Dwarka and vice-versa.

Sources said that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wants to review the policy and has suggested some changes in the draft. “There are two things the government is planning - to introduce high-end buses and allow aggregators to run buses. Transport minister needs to take a final call on whether they will allow only existing aggregators or any individual can run buses,” the official added.

An electric bus introduced by DTC on Thursday. (Virendra Singh Gosain/ HT Photo)

These buses will not run under the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) but the government will fix the maximum fare. The operator and aggregators need to take permit from the transport department.

“It will work like radio taxi permit. Government will just frame the rule and fare. Buses need to run on clean fuel and have safety features,” the official added.

Ola and Shuttl together run over 1,000 buses, mostly in NCR areas and provide Wi-Fi and AC buses. Once legalised, they can run on longer routes as well.