Destination buses to run from May 1 on 20 routes across Delhi
Delhi’s important business and residential hubs will be connected with the non-stop destination bus services.
Following the National Green Tribunal’s order to introduce destination non-stop bus services, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has decided to introduce 20 such routes from May 1.
These destination buses will be air-conditioned. The fare will be on the line of normal AC bus fares of Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 25.
The DTC said that capital’s important business and residential hubs will be connected with these non-stop bus services.
Delhi has, in recent years, seen rapidly deteriorating air quality, with vehicles among key contributors to the pollution. More than 530 new cars were registered everyday last year, suggesting that those who could afford them were more likely to use private vehicles than buses or the Metro.
Initial routes will connect residential areas such as Dwarka Sector 3 (Madhu Vihar), Punjabi Bagh, Vasant Vihar, Kalkaji, Janakpuri D-Block, Rohini Sector 22 and Badarpur Border to commercial districts such as the CGO complex, Nehru Place and Bikaji Cama Place during peak office hours.
The services will be run by the Delhi Transport Corporation and the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System.
Experts said the services can potentially help take off a considerable number of cars from the roads, and free up parking lots.
According to officials, a few other business hubs like Netaji Subhash Place, ITO, Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road and Laxmi Nagar Scope building are likely to be connected in a subsequent phase.
“Once the service begins, a survey will be done to find out if passengers of these destination buses are the same ones who were already using buses or if they they are those who have given up their cars. The NGT has asked to run buses on routes where ridership or revenue is the least,” a transport department official said.