Buses that smoked get the treatment

After facing flak over its fleet of smoking buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) decided to take all its low-floor buses off the roads.

After facing flak over its fleet of smoking buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) decided to take all its low-floor buses off the roads. The passengers faced the brunt, with very few buses plying on Saturday.

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The DTC is carrying out a check up of the 950 odd low-floor buses in its fleet after nine incidents of the buses getting stalled or catching fire in less than a month.

As a result, there were few buses on the roads on Friday evening and Saturday. Commuters had to rely on the private Blueline buses or old DTC buses.

Tata Motors, which has manufactured these buses and is responsible for their maintenance, have brought in engineers and technicians from its Lucknow plant to check the entire fleet.

The shortage of buses is expected to continue on Sunday. "Usually, the buses are checked regularly on nine points but now, there are 42 different checks, which is taking time," said a senior DTC official who didn't wish to be named.

DTC Managing Director Naresh Kumar refused to reply to our messages despite repeated attempts. Delhi's Transport Minster Arvinder Singh Lovely, too, couldn't be contacted for comments.

There are 10 DTC depots where low-floor buses are parked and maintained. "Very few low-floor buses were plying today and at least three depots were completely closed today," a senior DTC official said.

Sources said many DTC employees were angry after a depot manager was suspended on Thursday after another low-floor bus caught fire. "Why are we being made the scapegoat when the buses are faulty? It is better that the buses are thoroughly checked and then ply on the roads," he said.