New Delhi: The city’s public transport system got a fresh push towards electric mobility Wednesday, with LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu and CM Rekha Gupta flagging off 200 new electric buses at Delhi University Sports Complex. The induction took the city’s e-bus fleet past the 5,000 mark.The new buses comprise 88 12-metre and 112 DEVI 9-metre electric buses. The low-floor, air-conditioned buses are part of govt’s plan to convert all DTC buses to EVs and expand the overall bus fleet to about 14,000 by 2028-29.Speaking at the launch, LG Sandhu said, “The launch is an important step towards promoting better mobility, stronger connectivity and a green economy.”CM Gupta said before the latest addition of 200 EV buses, another 500 were added in Feb, 300 in March, 200 in April and 300 in July, bringing the total fleet close to 6,800. “Delhi is steadily moving ahead in development, cleanliness, green transport and civic amenities,” she added.Transport minister Pankaj Kumar Singh added that “concrete steps and better operations” had helped DTC turn profitable this year.Meanwhile, the Delhi-Karnal interstate e-bus service was also launched Wednesday. Five electric, air-conditioned buses will operate on the route, with 10 trips scheduled daily in each direction. The fare from Kashmere Gate to Karnal has been fixed at Rs 212. The route will cover Singhu border, Rai, Bahalgarh, Murthal, Gannaur, Samalkha, Panipat, Gharaunda and Madhuban.Govt also launched 56 dedicated women-only e-bus services. These include 30 ‘Ladies Special’ trips on 15 high-demand routes and 26 ‘University Ladies Special’ (U-Spl) trips on 13 routes. The services will operate during morning and evening peak hours.The Ladies Special services will connect major employment, educational and institutional centres, including Nehru Place, AIIMS, South Extension, RK Puram, Connaught Place, ITO, Delhi Secretariat, Karol Bagh, Kashmere Gate and Shivaji Stadium. The U-Spl services will provide connectivity to Delhi University colleges like Hindu, Ramjas, Daulat Ram, SRCC, LSR, Gargi, ARSD and Hansraj.Women police personnel and Home Guards have been deployed on the Ladies Special buses, which will be operated by female staff. Panic buttons installed in the buses have also been integrated with Delhi Police’s 112 PCR emergency response system.A public EV charging station was, meanwhile, inaugurated at DTC’s Rajghat Depot-1. It has four 240-kW chargers for electric buses, heavy commercial electric vehicles and electric cars, supported by a 1,600-kVA compact sub-station.
