The Delhi Government has shelved the plan to procure 1,380 semi low-floor buses and 500 mini-buses for the Delhi Transport Corporation for the time being and is now focusing on procuring cluster buses and mini-cluster bus models.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai confirmed that the idea has been shelved for now because of want of land for construction of depots. He said now the Government is mulling a semi-cluster scheme under which, buses will be procured without the requirement of any depots.
The Pioneer had earlier published a story that the Delhi Government is now planning to invite private players for buying buses and would pay them on a per kilometer basis. Confirming the development, the Minister, however, clarified that it doesn't mean a comeback of the infamous Blueline buses.
"These buses will be owned by the private players but will be run as per the rules and regulations formulated by the Government. Even the conductors in these buses will be deployed by the Government," he said.
However, the drivers of these buses will be deployed by the private entities that own the bus, he said. It remains to be seen how these drivers will be selected and whether the educational qualifications will be taken into account. It must be noted that the selection criterion of DTC drivers clearly says that the driver not only needs a valid licence and a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) badge, but is also supposed to be 10th pass.
While Rai has clarified that even though the buses will be owned by private players, they will be regulated by the Government. However, sources said Blueline buses were involved in so many accidents because the drivers were overworked, putting in more than one shifts. With the drivers still being hired by private entities, the Government will have to issue some guidelines related to fitness of the drivers, their educational qualification and their working conditions to maintain high standards of service.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also lauded DTC drivers during a function recently saying DTC buses are involved in minimum number of accidents. DTC officials credit it to good working conditions and reasonable working hours for their drivers.
Also, Rai said the Government's plan to procure 10,000 buses is still on track. Out of those 10,000 buses, 5,000 will be procured for the DTC and the other 5,000 will be run under the cluster-bus and mini-cluster schemes.
The Government has already announced its plan to procure 1,000 buses under the cluster bus scheme. On the other hand, the Government is sitting tight on DTC's proposal to buy 1,380 semi-low-floor and 500 mini buses.