Cabinet gives in- principle nod to buy 1,000 buses

◗ Each new bus would come equipped with three Internet protocol cameras, panic buttons, inbuilt GPS, and anti- skid features

The Delhi Cabinet on Friday gave its in- principle nod to a proposal for procurement of 1,000 CNG- run standard floor buses for the cluster scheme, subject to approval by the court. “This is a very important decision, which is in principle subject to the court’s approval. We hope the court will give a go ahead to it as there is scarcity of buses in Delhi,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Each new bus would come equipped with three Internet protocol ( IP) cameras, panic buttons, in- built GPS, and antiskid features. The buses under the cluster scheme operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal System ( DIMTS) were procured seven years ago in 2011.

Mr Sisodia said that preparation for purchasing 1,000 new buses for Delhi Transport Corporation ( DTC) was also underway.

The buses were last purchased for the DTC about 10 years ago in 2008. The transport department came up with eight depots that would be used to park the new cluster buses. The Delhi government would bear an estimated expenditure of around Rs 276 crore for the engagement of 1,000 buses under the cluster scheme for the first year of operation.

Under the scheme, the Delhi government had to bear the viability gap to meet the deficit between the actual payment to be made to the concessionaire and revenue ( fare collection). Currently, the monthly deficit in operation of cluster buses is about Rs 1.92 lakh per bus, said a government official.

New depots, besides eight for cluster buses, are being constructed in East Vinod Nagar, Rohini, Mundela Kalan, Burari, Bawana, and Ghumman Hera for parking more buses, he said.

The Delhi high court was hearing a PIL concerning procurement of 1,000 standard floor buses for the DTC, by the Delhi government. The government and DTC had assured the high court that no contract for standard floor buses would be awarded till May 23, on the backdrop of objections that they were not disable- friendly. The assurance was given as the court appeared inclined to stay the entire tender floated on March 15 for procurement of 1,000 buses.