Delhi Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday gave administrative approval for procuring low floor buses. The approval has been granted for the engagement of 1000 low floor CNG propelled air conditioned buses under the cluster scheme of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). Significantly, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) may be appointed as Bid Process Manager (BPM) and Integrated Machanism (IM) for these proposed clusters as well, on nomination basis.
The Cabinet also decided that the transport department will specify the clusters and its associated routes for the 1000 low floor AC buses in the Request For Procurement (RFP) document so as to have informed bidding process by the prospective bidders. The Transport Minister will be the competent authority for RFP approval of this project.
"After receipt of financial bids, the concern department will seed expenditure sanction for these 1000 low floor AC buses from the Council of Ministers for the entire concession period before signing the Concession Agreements with the 'L-1 bidders'. The unutilised bus depots of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) shall be utilised by the Transport Department for housing of these 1000 low floor AC buses for which Transport Department will take final decision in consultation with DTC:, the cabinet ordered. It was also approved in the cabinet meeting that the transport Department will be allowed to make modifications in the routes of the remaining clusters, as per requirement of city and rural areas. It may be noted that transport department had sought the approval for these buses in accordance earlier in May of this year . Delhi Cabinet had then directed the transport department to initiate the process for the procurement of additional of additional low floor buses.
"The DTC highlighted that the main reason for failures of past tenders was procurement of buses with Annual Maintenance Contract(AMC) from the Vehicle Manufactures(VMs) for the entire life span of the vehicle(7,50,000 kms or 12 years operation whichever is later). Notably, DIMTS was assigned with a study a Route Rationalisation, "Some of the 657 approved routed are likely to be amended. Hence, the department may be allowed to make suitable modifications in the existing routes of clusters, as per the requirements of the bus passengers," an official statement from the chief minister (CMO)'s office stated. Alongwith this installation of CCTV cameras in existing buses for which consultant has been appointed and the specifications for CCTV and Automated Vehicles Tracking System (AVTS), has also been finalized in the cabinet. "Currently, VMs are executing AMC of 3775 low-floor CNG buses of DTC. Owing to suboptimal maintenance of buses, heavy deductions are being made by DTC on their AMC bills in accordance to the contract terms. It is essential that these buses will run on CNG fuel in Delhi as such buses are customised mainly for Delhi" the CMO stated.