New Delhi to Introduce 1,000 Electric Buses This Month, Here's What to Expect

New Delhi: In a major move to improve public transport in the capital, Delhi will receive 1,000 new electric buses by the end of March, replacing its aging fleet of CNG buses. 

Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh made the announcement on Saturday, stating that this move is aimed at addressing the growing concerns over the fleet’s efficiency and environmental impact.

The existing batch of 1,000 CNG buses, most of which are part of the cluster bus service, have completed their 10-year life cycle and were originally scheduled to be retired in June last year. However, former transport minister Kailash Gahlot had ordered a nine-month extension for these buses, which will end this month. With the arrival of new electric buses, transport department officials have assured that bus services will continue without disruption.

“These 1,000 new e-buses will arrive this month. We are continuously working to improve public transport in Delhi, and more buses will be added to the fleet to enhance connectivity,” said Minister Singh.

Read More: Do You Own a 15-Year-Old Vehicle in Delhi? 5 Things You Must Know

 

As of now, around 7,600 buses, including 2,002 electric buses, operate in Delhi. The government plans to deploy 11,000 buses, including 8,000 electric buses, by 2026. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who chaired a meeting on Saturday, announced that the procurement of 3,680 electric buses will be completed by September 2025, further improving the public transport system. The electrification of bus depots will also be carried out as part of this initiative.

The AAP-led government’s electric vehicle policy, rolled out in 2020, aims to significantly boost the number of electric buses on Delhi’s roads. The policy envisions increasing the total number of buses in the city to 10,480 by 2025, with 80% (8,280 buses) of them being electric.

Additionally, the future of the Mohalla bus service, initially proposed by the AAP government, is still uncertain. The plan to introduce 2,180 smaller buses by 2025, to cater to narrow roads and overcrowded areas, has been put on hold. While trial runs were conducted, the service could not be rolled out. The newly-elected government is reassessing the plan and may introduce the service under a different name.

According to the 2023 economic survey, an average of 4.1 million passengers use public buses in Delhi every day, highlighting the importance of the ongoing improvements to the city's transport network.

While the current government focuses on strengthening the fleet, political parties, including the BJP and Congress, have raised concerns over financial losses incurred under the previous government. They referred to an alleged CAG report, which claims that inflated procurement costs for buses led to losses of ₹4,500 crore and benefited certain private players.

The upcoming introduction of electric buses is expected to provide a significant boost to Delhi's public transportation system, benefiting both commuters and the environment.