Cluster buses: Free ride for commuters with passes

Regular commuters with concessional bus passes issued by the DTC will be able to travel for free in Delhi's new private bus service.

Regular commuters with concessional bus passes issued by the DTC will be able to travel for free in Delhi's new private bus service.

HT Image

Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh said all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus passes will be valid in Corporate-run cluster buses. The decision was taken in a meeting convened to review the status of various transport projects.

The Delhi government had earlier decided not to allow bus passes in cluster buses till they implement automatic fare collection system and all passes are converted into smart cards.

Around 50 corporate-run private buses, known as cluster buses for running on a cluster of 32 profitable and non-profitable routes in south Delhi, rolled out on Delhi roads on Thursday. There were, however, several incidents in the past two days when pass holders travelled in the orange-coloured cluster buses and refused to buy tickets.

"We do not want the commuters to face any inconvenience. We have allowed concessional bus passes in cluster buses. The issue of revenue- sharing and other logistics will be decided later," Singh said.

Apart from student passes and all-route bus passes, DTC also issues around 80,000 daily passes — both for AC and non-AC buses — every day, which entitles the pass holder a free journey throughout the day.