Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, flagged off 104 new standard floor buses fitted with hydraulic lifts under 'Cluster Scheme' at Dwarka depot.
These buses are equipped with panic buttons, CCTV cameras and are especially designed with lifts for divyangs. The target of the Government is to launch 1,000 buses by end of this month.
Also, these buses will be first of its kind and are fitted three doors along with unique features. Out of these, two gates will be for the 'entry and exit' while remaining one will be completely dedicated for persons with disability and senior citizens and are fitted with hydraulic lifts.
"Flagged off 104 new buses today, fitted with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, hydraulic lifts for the differently-abled and other modern tech Delhi's bus procurement was delayed for some years, but the good news is that the delivery of thousands of buses has picked up pace," said Kejriwal in a tweet.
It may be noted that the 25 buses that were rolled out in the first phase with hydraulic lifts were manufactured by Ashoka Leyland. These buses were also procured under the same scheme but these have two gates and hydraulic lifts were fitted in the back door.
"Along with CM flagged off 100 new Standard floor buses. Somebody told me that on 'Dhanteras' a beautiful gift for Delhiites. New Dwarka Depot also inaugurated Delhi Government under leadership of dynamic stands committed to strengthen public transport system," Gahlot tweeted.
The new buses will run on nine routes from Nangloi to Mehrauli, Najafgarh to Safdarjung Terminal, Nangloi to Badarpur Extension, Qutubgarh Border to Old Delhi, Uttam Nagar to Kapas Hera Border, Qutubgarh to Old Delhi Fatehpuri, Najafgarh to Azadpur, Kanjhawala to Azadpur and Najagfarh to Narela.
Apart from hydraulic lifts, the buses are fitted with CCTV Cameras, panic buttons with hooter, GPS units for tracking of bus, Anti-vandalism seats for safety and security of the passengers especially for women.
Besides, the Government has also begun the procurement of 1,000 Low floor AC buses under cluster scheme and tender for 650 Low Floor buses has already been awarded for three clusters and these buses will start coming from January 2020. The tender for the remaining 350 buses will be floated soon and these buses are expected to arrive by May 2020.
Further, tender for 300 Electric Buses (Low Floor, 12 meter) has been floated ron 15th October. The financial bid for 1,000 low-floor, air-conditioned, CNG-run cluster buses has also been opened.
Further, the transport department has created depot space at Rewla Khanpur, Dwarka Sector-22, Kharkhari Nahar, Bawana Sector-1 and Rani Khera -I, II and III, from where these 1000 new buses will be operated. Currently, there are 5500 buses in the National Capital out which 1679 buses come under Cluster Scheme.
Moreover, the free ride scheme will also start in DTC and cluster buses from from the occasion of Bhai Dooj on 29th October, Monday.