The Delhi Government is likely to implement the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) report of 2012 which suggested route rationalisation and different sized buses, including mini buses, across the national Capital. In a meeting on Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Government which had started the popular scheme Odd-Even this year discussed the pathway to implementing the report.
The 2012 report of DIMTS advocates running of different sized buses to augment public transport in the capital.
"The discussion in the meeting was to discuss the pathway to the implementation of the report which suggests route rationalisation and inclusion of small buses," Delhi Government spokesperson Nagendra Sharma told The Pioneer.
He said that the concerns of officials who had doubts on the advantages of the implementation were addressed. "They had apprehensions over the use of manpower as they said you would need more numbers in mini buses as the big buses in the city…but all those things would be settled as the main aspects is the rationalisation which will help in bringing down the traffic," he added.
Many cities across the country have experimented with different sized buses to cater to the routes.
"The DIMTS report advocates introduction of different size of buses on the city roads to strengthen public transport. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also briefed by Transport Minister Satyendar Jain about report," said another Government official.
As per Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) report on route rationalisation, there is need to run different sized buses to augment public transport in the city. People in Delhi have been facing difficulties in commuting due to lesser number of busses on the roads.
The official said the decision to implement the report will be taken soon.
The Government said that the bus manufacturers have already assured to provide the midi and mini busses, earlier than the normal busses.
The Government believes that these small sized busses could be directed on the narrow routes and the ones which are not used by the big buses due to the size. "This way diverting the traffic could be easy and can give breather to the people who travel by private and public vehicles on the roads."
The objective of the route rationalisation study was to carry out a review of all bus routes operating in Delhi and to suggest modifications in existing routes as well as new route plans for the city.
Delhi has a bus route network of approximately 16,000 km length which is covered through 657 designated bus routes.
At present, nearly 346 bus routes are operated. Still, 311 routes are non-operational or have irregular frequency. DTC is operating about 3237 buses in the city and has been the backbone of Public Transportation system in Delhi for several decades.