AAP explains why Delhi lacks nearly 5,500 buses
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court yesterday, the Delhi government said the present fleet of buses in Delhi is 5,554-strong against the requirement of 11,000. "Delhi government is making all-out efforts to augment the bus fleet, but is hindered in its efforts due to non-availability of depot land and repeated failure of tenders issued by DTC for procurement of buses," affidavit said.
Categorization of buses in Delhi
The Delhi government has said that there were 1,275 low-floor AC buses, 2,506 low-floor non-AC buses and 101 Green standard-floor non-AC buses. Besides these, 1,672 orange color standard low-floor buses were being operated under the cluster scheme.
High Court had stayed the induction of 2,000 buses
The affidavit further stated that the Delhi cabinet had taken a decision on September 1, 2017 for inducting 2,000 standard-floor buses. However, the High Court had on June 1 this year stayed the implementation of this decision, which was at an advanced stage. If the stay was vacated, 2,000 standard floor buses would be ready for induction, it added.
Plots of land alloted at certain places
The affidavit said the DDA had allotted 19 acres of land at Rohini Phase-5, five acres at Dwarka Sector-22, and two parcels of land of 10 acres each at Vasant Kunj and Rohini Sector-32. Two parcels of land in Bawana were also purchased.
Despite plots, litigation stopping work: AAP
But even though the millennium depot, where 1,200 buses could be parked, was made, in a litigation, the Supreme Court had directed that the depot cannot be used any more for parking till the DDA changed the land use. The Vasant Kunj and Rohini Sector-32 plots were also stuck: despite paying the entire amount, the land wasn't handed over as they were in litigation.
Government seeks assistance to get things moving
The Delhi government said a cabinet-decision was taken in May to procure an additional 2,000 low-floor buses, which are likely to be procured by May'20. The DTC has also decided to procure 500 low-floor CNG buses. Moreover, "if the millennium bus depot complex and aforesaid two parcels are made available with additional 15 acres, the government (can) meet the space requirement," the affidavit said.
