New Delhi: Delhi govt on Friday rolled out a series of major transport initiatives aimed at strengthening public mobility.CM Rekha Gupta flagged off 300 electric buses from Indraprastha depot, launched an interstate e-bus service between Nanaksar in Delhi and Ghaziabad, and laid the foundation stone for a new Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) office that will be built near the IP depot.Govt also relaunched its electric vehicle incentive portal and resumed disbursal of pending subsidies.The induction of the 300 buses marks a significant expansion of Delhi’s zero-emission fleet. These low-floor, air-conditioned buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, real-time tracking systems and facilities for persons with disabilities.With this addition, the DTC fleet now has over 6,100 buses. Govt has outlined a long-term plan to scale up the fleet to around 14,000 buses by 2028-29, which will make it the largest e-bus network in the country.In a push to improve regional connectivity, the inter-state e-bus service was launched between Nanaksar and Ghaziabad’s Old Bus Stand. Covering a distance of around 21 km, the route connects key locations like Bhajanpura, Loni Road, UP border, Pasonda, Hindon Airport and Mohan Nagar.Initially, three electric buses will be operated on a pilot basis, running 12 trips daily in both directions. The service will be available from 7.15 am to 10.10 pm, with fares capped at Rs 53, making it an affordable commuting option for daily passengers.The multi-storey office building of DTC will be developed over approximately 1,800 square metres. It will include a modern lobby, waiting lounge, conference rooms, offices, workstations for staffers and an IP-PBX-based communication system.The building will incorporate energy-efficient design features along with fire safety systems. A temporary office arrangement is being put in place to ensure that administrative functions continue without disruption during the construction phase.Another key initiative is the relaunch of govt’s EV incentive portal, aimed at streamlining subsidy disbursal. Under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020, incentives are provided for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and e-rickshaws. However, the subsidies were pending for the past two years.The development comes after the high court in Sept last year ordered Delhi govt to take immediate steps to disburse the subsidies promised to customers for buying EVs and said procedural hurdles could not be used as a pretext to delay payments. The court also said that govt could not hide behind the fact that the policy does not prescribe a timeline for disbursing the subsidies.Accordingly, subsidy payments, which were halted in June 2023, have now resumed with improved transparency through integration with public financial management system and direct benefit transfer (DBT), said a senior official.In the first phase, more than Rs 24 crore has been disbursed directly into the bank accounts of 12,877 beneficiaries. Pending payments will be cleared in a phased manner. The portal has also been reopened for new applications.These measures are part of a broader effort to modernise Delhi’s public transport infrastructure, promote sustainable urban mobility and consequently improve its air quality, the officials said.
