File photo of Delhi Transport Minister, Gopal Rai
Facing land crunch for bus depots, the Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government has sought 500 acres of land from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for parking 10,000 buses in the national capital.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai held a meeting with senior officials and discussed the land issue for bus depots. The government plans to buy 1,000 cluster buses under the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transit System (DIMTS) soon. According to a senior official, government does not have land for building bus depots due to which plan to buy more buses is getting delayed.
"Government has written to DDA and asked it to provide 500 acre land to build bus depots for parking 10,000 buses which will improve bus service in the national capital," an official said.
Currently, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Integrated Multi-Model Transit System (DIMTS) operate around 4,700 buses and 1,300 cluster buses respectively.
Mr Rai said, "We have identified land for bus depots for new 1,000 cluster buses across the national capital. After four months, we will start receiving these vehicles."
Delhiites have been facing difficulties in commuting due to shortage of buses in the capital.