In a move to ensure last mile connectivity, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has asked the Delhi Government to “expedite” its approval for procurement of 427 metro feeder electric buses. Secretary, MoHUA Durga Shanker Mishra has written to Delhi government Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, asking him to intervene in this “important issue.” MoHUA has started focusing on feeder bus services, electric rickshaws, smart cycles (that can be rented out), electric scooter services, and partnerships with cab aggregators for providing hassle-free last mile connectivity to passenger.
In a letter to Dev, Mishra said provision of a good feeder service towards last-mile connectivity improves model shift from private transport to mass transit systems like the metro rail.
Delhi Metro had submitted a proposal in January 2018 to the Delhi government for providing a grant under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for the purchase of the buses to boost its feeder service. The request has been pending since then. VGF is a grant to support projects that are economically justified but not financially viable. It was launched in 2004 to support infrastructure projects that fall under Public Private Partnerships.
He also said the Delhi Metro has informed that it has submitted the proposal for providing VGF (Viability Gap Funding) for procurement of 427 electric buses to GNCTD in January, 2018. Around 329 feeder bus services have been made operational by the MoHUA already in the national capital.
“The issue has been flagged by the Delhi Metro with the State Transport Authority (STA) on numerous occasions and they have provided all necessary clarification and details. STA and Delhi government has agreed in-principle to support the proposal,” Mishra said in the letter.
“I request you (chief secretary) to kindly intervene in this important issue and expedite approval of Delhi government on VGF proposal of Delhi Metro for procurement of electric buses for last-mile connectivity,” he said.
According to sources, Mishra said in letter that the proposed procurement of electric feeder buses will not only reduce congestion, vehicular pollution and accidents, but also enhance the ridership of Delhi Metro.
“DMRC has invited tenders for procurement of buses in anticipation of VGF approval from Delhi government. Tenders for East, West, South and Central clusters are held up for want of VGF approval from Delhi government. The tenders for North cluster for Shastri Park has been floated,” the Union Housing and Urban Affairs secretary said in letter.
Mishra said there are challenges in Delhi which needs to be addressed squarely to provide easy accessibility to commuters.
“Each states/union territories must make the metro self-sustaining, enhance other kinds of mass rapid transport systems, such as monorails or buses, and provide last mile connectivity, between the metro station and the commuters' destinations,” officials of MoHUA said.
The national metro policy had also aims to enhance metro rail revenues through a feeder system. “Every proposal for metro rail should necessarily include proposals for feeder systems that help to enlarge the catchment area of each metro station at least to 5 km. Last-mile connectivity through pedestrian pathways, Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) infrastructure, and induction of facilities for para transit modes will be essential requirements for availing any central assistance for the proposed metro rail projects,” the policy noted.