Published 08:46 IST, February 9th 2021

After Delhi Police sent a letter to DTC; Corporation decides to hold recovering of buses

After Delhi Police sent a stern letter to DTC regarding deployment of buses; the Corporation has decided to hold its decision of recovering buses, said official

Reported by: Gargi Rohatgi
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Days after Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) started recalling all its buses given to Delhi Police on "special hire'" because 45 of m were damd during clashes between farmers and police on Republic Day, state transport utility has w paused recovery of more buses on request of police. Senior officials on Monday informed that Delhi Transport utility stated that additional buses will be given as per demand raised by force. 

Delhi govt holds recovery of DTC buses

Senior officials who had attended "emergency meeting" chaired by Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla on Monday to resolve impasse between police and DTC informed that decision to pause recovery of buses was taken during this meeting. This crucial meeting was also attended by chief secretary Vijay Dev, transport commissioner Ashish Kundra, special commissioner of police Sundari Nanda, state home secretary BS Bhalla and DTC managing director Vijay Bidhuri. 

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Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Monday, “ Delhi Police had taken 576 DTC buses on special hire of which around 350 have been returned so far. It has been decided that more buses will be recalled by DTC as of w. Also, it was clarified that DTC will t deny any bus to police. Maintaining law and order is extremely important.”

Outlining furr details, Transport Minister said that only difference from previous practice will be that DTC will w t be able to release its buses solely. He said, "Any request to deploy buses on special hire will have to be approved by Delhi government. That means DTC will have to take Delhi government’s approval."

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READ | Delhi Police Reacts To AAP's Decision To Withdraw DTC; Requests Continuance Of Practice

Delhi Police reacts to AAP's withdrawal of DTC service

Earlier on February 4, Delhi Police had said that DTC has always provided buses to Delhi Police for movement and transportation of forces deployed for law and order duty. This statement by Delhi Police comes a day after Delhi Transport government instructed DTC to return 576 buses that were provided to Delhi Police on "special hire". While speaking to news ncy ANI, Public Relations Officer of Delhi Police Chinmoy Biswal said that it is a decades-old practice and it is going on currently also.

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Chinmoy Biswal said, " DTC has always provided buses to Delhi Police and assisted us in movement and transportation of Police force deployed on law and order duty in maintenance of public order. We requisition buses from DTC and we get assistance. w we have again requested DTC to continue with this practice and assist us by providing required fleet of buses for same."

READ | Farmers' Protest: Delhi Police Withdraws Additional Troops From Singhu, Tikri And Ghazipur

AAP orders withdrawal of DTC buses for Paramilitary & Police Forces

CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government on February 3 had asked DTC to withdraw buses on special hire to various departments, meaning movement of paramilitary personnel will be affected in national capital. Amid ongoing farmers' protests around Delhi's borders and heavy deployment of paramilitary forces, DTC asked concerned departments to relieve buses that were currently being used by m. Furr, DTC authorities maintained that approval of Delhi government was a must for requisition of buses under special hire.  low-floor DTC buses are extensively used for movement of police and paramilitary personnel for deployment in various parts of city.

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"All Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses on special hire have been decided to be withdrawn with immediate effect. It has also been decided by authorities that approval of government will be required w before requisitioning of buses under special hire," a government official said.

READ | Delhi's AAP Govt Orders Immediate Withdrawal Of DTC Buses For Paramilitary & Police Forces

08:46 IST, February 9th 2021