Why does Delhi not have more buses: SC to govt

A Bench headed by Justive Vikramjit Sen asked Meera Bhatia, lawyer representing the Delhi government, on Wednesday to file a detailed affidavit on steps taken so far for acquisition of environment-friendly buses ever since the Bhure Lal committee filed its report in 2007.

A Bench headed by Justive Vikramjit Sen asked Meera Bhatia, lawyer representing the Delhi government, on Wednesday to file a detailed affidavit on steps taken so far for acquisition of environment-friendly buses ever since the Bhure Lal committee filed its report in 2007.

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In July 1998, the Supreme Court had directed the government to increase the Capital's bus fleet to 10,000 by 2001— all technologically modern and run on CNG. The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection and Control Authority (EPCA) headed by Bhure Lal had in 2007 recommended an addition of 6,000 buses by the end of 2009 apart from the 10,000.

But the situation on ground is very different. The Capital just has around 7,500 buses even in February 2010.

The government's Blueline phase out plan has gone awry with suppliers Tata and Ashok Leyland not adhering to their supply schedule.