Maintenance of 500 bus shelters to be outsourced

Concerned about vandalism of the 500-odd bus shelters that were constructed ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Delhi government has decided to outsource their maintenance to a private firm. HT reports.

Concerned about vandalism of the 500-odd bus shelters that were constructed ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Delhi government has decided to outsource their maintenance to a private firm.

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A decision in this regard was taken at a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. The Cabinet has formed a committee under the chairmanship of chief secretary of Delhi, PK Tripathi, which will work out the modalities.

"We are quite concerned about the maintenance of these bus shelters. Those people who have come forward to maintain these shelters till now can't maintain it," said Sheila Dikshit, Delhi chief minister.

There are a total of 1,638 bus shelters in the city out of which, 1,138 are being maintained by a private firm which has been earning revenue through advertisement.

However, in a survey conducted by the transport department, it was found that at some 500 places located at the outskirts of the city, the bus shelters had been vandalised. "At many places, the poles have been chopped and stolen, tiles have gone missing and even the roof covers have been stolen. The Cabinet has decided to form a committee which has been authorised to work out a financial model for these shelters depending on the current market position," said Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh.