Govt pushes public transport to save fuel

The Delhi Government has decided to reduce the use of official vehicles and promote public transport following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation amid the current global situation, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said ministers, BJP MLAs, Government departments, and officials have been asked to minimise the use of official vehicles and encourage carpooling and public transport for daily travel. She also appealed to residents to support the initiative by shifting from private vehicles to buses and Metro services.

The Chief Minister said fuel conservation should become a public movement and stressed that small individual efforts could collectively make a significant difference in the national interest. “The Government has decided to limit the use of official vehicles for departmental work. Public transport and carpooling will be given priority,” the Chief Minister said. She said Delhi already has an extensive transport network through Metro trains and DTC buses across Delhi and the National Capital Region. According to the Chief Minister, greater use of public transport would not only help conserve petrol and diesel but also reduce traffic congestion and pollution levels in the Capital.

The Chief Minister said public participation was necessary to achieve larger national goals. Referring to the Covid-19 period, she said the country had previously shown discipline and cooperation during difficult situations and could do so again through responsible use of transport resources.

The Chief Minister urged people to prefer public transport for office travel, shopping, and daily commuting while adopting carpooling as a regular practice. Highlighting the scale of Delhi Metro operations, the Chief Minister said the Metro network has become the backbone of transport in Delhi-NCR. She said the network now spans 416 kilometres and covers major residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

According to Government figures, Delhi Metro currently operates more than 4,500 trips daily through 343 trains and 303 stations. The network serves over 65 lakh passengers every day across Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Bahadurgarh.

The Chief Minister said the Metro system has helped reduce travel time and pollution while offering safe and reliable transportation to commuters. She added that the Government is continuously working to improve Metro integration, last-mile connectivity, and environmentally sustainable transport systems.

The Government is also expanding Delhi’s bus network, particularly electric buses, as part of its public transport strategy. The Chief Minister said the Delhi Transport Corporation currently operates 6,300 active buses, including 4,538 electric buses.

The electric fleet includes 1,593 nine-metre DEVI buses, 2,845 twelve-metre electric buses, and 100 feeder buses. The Government plans to increase the number of electric buses to 7,500 by the end of 2026 and further expand the fleet to 14,000 by 2028, the Chief Minister said.

According to the Chief Minister, the present fleet is sufficient to meet commuter demand across the city and the surrounding NCR areas. She said the Government is also strengthening inter-city public transport links. Electric DTC bus services are already operational on routes connecting Delhi with Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Dharuhera, and Baraut.

Officials believe these routes will provide affordable and environmentally friendly travel options while reducing dependence on private vehicles. The Chief Minister said fuel conservation was linked not only to economic concerns but also to environmental protection and national responsibility. She appealed to residents to actively participate in the campaign by making buses, Metro services, and carpooling their preferred modes of transport.