Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, “The trial run has begun on two routes — Majlis Park to Pradhan Enclave and Akshardham to Mayur Vihar Phase III. It will continue for a week, and based on the learnings and feedback, we will roll out the scheme in two to three weeks.” He added that the scheme would ultimately feature 2,080 electric buses, with the half of them to be operated by Delhi Transport Corporation and the rest by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System.
Each of the nine-metre-long mohalla buses has 23 seats and can also accommodate up to 13 standing passengers. For easy identification, the buses have been painted green. Six of the seats, 25% of all, are reserved for women passengers and have been coloured pink. The maximum route length for a mohalla bus is 10km. The fare will be the same as AC buses of Delhi govt, ranging from INR 10 to INR 25. Women can avail of free rides through Pink passes.
The scheme is a pivotal initiative to improve Delhi’s public transport infrastructure, particularly in the areas where larger buses face operational difficulties, said transport minister. Gahlot emphasised that the feedback from the trial run would be meticulously analysed to make necessary adjustments before the full-scale implementation.
Kejriwal govt had announced the scheme in its budget in 2023, but it has been delayed by over a year due to the problems in procuring buses. Govt hopes to introduce 2,080 mohalla buses by 2025, catering specifically to the areas with limited road width or overcrowding, said an official. The scheme plans to provide feeder bus services to boost first- and last-mile connectivity in the areas where standard 12-metre buses face operational challenges due to their size and turning radius, he added. Govt is already operating 100 similar e-buses, acquired from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, for the last-mile connectivity.
The trial route from Majlis Park to Pradhan Enclave will have stoppages at Pradhan Enclave Pushta (Little Star School), Pradhan Enclave A-Block, Baba Colony Pushta, Apex School, Jagatpur More, Milan Vihar Chowk, Jhorda Police Chowki (Kayakalp Hospital), Sangam Vihar Gali No-4, and Mukundpur Crossing, and conclude at Majlis Park metro station. Similarly, the Akshardham -Mayur Vihar Phase-III route will have stoppages at Delhi Police Apartment, Noida Mod, Mayur Vihar Phase-1 metro station, Trilokpuri, Ghazipur Thana, Gharoli Extension, Sapera Basti, and end at Mayur Vihar Phase-III Paper Market.
Govt has constructed 16 depots for the parking and maintenance of mohalla buses.
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