Delhi govt plans to run 2,000 new AC buses under cluster scheme

NEW DELHI: To stengthen problem public transport in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to procure air-conditioned buses under the cluster scheme.

NEW DELHI: To stengthen problem public transport in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to procure air-conditioned buses under the cluster scheme.

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The buses will be run by the Delhi Transport Corporation. The government will float tenders for 2,000 new AC standard-floor buses, which will be operated by DTC and DIMTS.

The move came after the DTC could not buy buses despite calling tenders. The future of the bus aggregator scheme is also uncertain as the L-G is yet to approve it.

The proposal will be placed before the cabinet for approval.

The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) operates buses (orange) through Cluster Scheme under which corporates are invited by the government to run their buses. Under the cluster model, concessionaires are paid on the basis of distance covered in kilometres.

DTC has 4,461 buses which include 3,781 low-floor buses and 680 standard floor buses. About 1,490 cluster buses are operational. In the last budget, the government had promised to procure 1,380 semi-low floor buses, 500 mini buses for DTC and another 1,000 buses under the cluster scheme.