Battery ricks, mini-buses to beat Delhi’s pollution, rush

NEWDELHI:As part of the Centre’s flagship smart city programme, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) plans to run minibuses and battery-operated rickshaws to solve the issue of last-mile connectivity and traffic congestion.

These services will connect railway-metro stations and bus terminals with offices, commercial complexes and government residential colonies in and around New Delhi area.

The council will seek the road transport ministry’s (MoRT) help to implement the project. If required, funds may be provided by the ministry, said a source.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently directed the Delhi government to introduce destination buses to improve air quality in the capital.

A senior official of the council said the proposal to operate buses and environment friendly electric rickshaws was under consideration.

“The mini-buses and batteryoperated rickshaws will be along the lines of metro feeder buses. However, the rickshaws will be different from e-rickshaws already running on city roads in terms of speed and safety features,” he said.

A feasibility report will be prepared and the council will identify routes, said the official.

Apart from commercial hub Connaught Place, the NDMC area has government office complexes such as Central Secretariat, Shastri Bhawan, and Krishi Bhawan.

Pick-up and drop points will be created at New Delhi railway station, Shivaji Bridge, Tilak Bridge, and Sarojini Nagar station.

The civic body plans to provide connectivity from parking lots to nearby markets.

The NDMC area, which houses bungalows of ministers, politicians and bureaucrats, was included in the first list of 20 urban centres to be developed under he smart city programme released in January.

“The motive is just to control pollution and traffic on roads for which the council may rope in a concessionaire or it may run the servicesitself.Thepublic-privatepartnership model is being explored. But nothing has been finalised yet,” said the NDMC spokesperson.

PICKUP AND DROP POINTS WILL BE AT NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION, SHIVAJI BRIDGE, TILAK BRIDGE, AND SAROJINI NAGAR STATION