Coming down heavily on the Delhi Government and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for failing to furnish a data-backed study on rationalisation of bus routes in the capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed Managing Director of DTC to appear before it on Wednesday.
While stopping short of imposing costs on DTC, a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “Why did you not conduct any study on rationalisation of bus routes in DelhiIJ There has to be some study or document on the basis of which you will be planning your routes. Call your MD to be present tomorrow.”
The observation came after the Delhi Government told the green panel that once the new buses come on road, people travelling on two-wheelers would switch to these buses as they would be air conditioned and their frequency will be better.
“What makes you think soIJ Have you seen these busesIJ 70 per cent of them are empty most of the time,” the bench observed.
The city Government told the tribunal that a total of 1,380 standard size buses and 500 midi buses are to be introduced before April 1, 2016. “The mini buses would ply in rural areas and outskirts of Delhi so that people don’t face problems while commuting across the city. With regard to 1,380 buses, these would be deployed as per requirement of the area,” the Delhi Government said.
On the issue of running new buses, the bench asked, “Have you prepared route chart and timingsIJ How will you prepare your route chart and on what basisIJ There is no study or statistics that this is the total number of passengers and this is the requirement.”
Disappointed at the lackluster attitude of the DTC, the bench added, “the DTC was asked to rationalise its bus routes. Have they taken any standIJ Do you know what a study meansIJ Have you collected any dataIJ Deputy chief general manager (mechanical) says passenger demand is to be looked into. Have you carried out any study with regard to requirement of passengersIJ”