Delhi is on the cusp of introducing neighborhood buses to improve local transportation. The Delhi government has completed preparations and is in the final stages of route determination. Moreover, the process to procure small-sized electric buses under this initiative is nearing completion.
Details of the Mohalla Bus Scheme
The government’s ‘Mohalla Bus’ initiative is gaining traction. Of the total 2080 buses that will be introduced, 1040 are about to be procured by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Sources reveal that DTC management is set to sign contracts with bus manufacturing companies within the week. These buses will be 9 meters in size and will be fully equipped with amenities like air conditioning, CCTV cameras, panic buttons, GPS, and a communication system.
From the total order, 728 buses will be bought from PMI Electro Mobility, while 312 will be acquired from JBM Group. Delivery of these buses is expected to commence within three months.
The 2080 buses that are being procured will be operated in a 50-50 partnership under the DTC and Cluster Scheme. The transport department has already signed contracts for the 1040 buses under the Cluster Scheme with the aforementioned companies. This department is also set to receive 728 buses from PMI Electro Mobility and 312 from the JBM Group. The anticipated delivery of these buses will start next month. The government aims to launch the Mohalla Bus Scheme by the end of this year, with a set schedule to ensure timely delivery and deployment of the buses.
Expansion with Larger Buses
In addition to this, the Delhi government, in collaboration with DIMTS and DTC, is also procuring 1900 electric buses that are 12 meters in size. From this number, 50% of the buses will be sourced from Switch Mobility, which collaborates with Ashok Leyland for electric bus manufacturing. Meanwhile, 30% will be bought from PMI Electro, and the remaining 20% from JBM Group. Last week, the transport department signed a contract to purchase 950 electric buses from Switch Mobility. Delivery for these buses will be phased and is expected within the next 4 to 5 months.
These larger electric buses will complement the 800 electric buses already included in the DTC’s fleet. Once introduced, the operation of electric buses under the Cluster Scheme will also begin, significantly aiding Delhi’s environment by providing a cleaner transportation alternative.
