Blueline operators’ firm to run buses

With their buses being phased out a few Blueline operators have come together to do what they can do the best. Running Buses. But this time in a more organised manner.

With their buses being phased out a few Blueline operators have come together to do what they can do the best. Running Buses. But this time in a more organised manner.

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Delhi government’s transport department signed an agreement on Wednesday with a conglomerate of Blueline operators to run buses in cluster 2. The conglomerate, named Indraprastha Logistics (short name IPL), will run about 250 buses on select south Delhi routes, which have been put under cluster 2.

According to senior transport department officials, nine Blueline operators have come together to form this company.

Since Delhi government has already announced complete phase out of Blueline buses from January 31, officials said forming a company and run buses under the aegis of transport department is the best thing the Blueline operators could have done.

“Cluster 2 will have at least 232 buses running on 37 bus routes in areas like Badarpur, Sarita Vihar and Okhla,” said a senior transport department official requesting anonymity.

The conglomerate has been given one year to start bus operations in cluster 2.

The transport department has divided 657 bus routes in 17 bus clusters. Each bus cluster will have one private company running buses along with the DTC to strengthen public transport system.

While the revenue collected from the ticket sales and advertisement on buses and bus stops will go to the transport department. The government will pay private bus operator a fixed amount on the basis of per kilometre that each bus will run.

While buses on cluster 1 are likely to start plying from next week, the transport department signed agreement with another company on Tuesday to run buses in cluster 3, 4 and 5, which comprises 69 routes primarily in north Delhi, central Delhi and along the Ring Road.