Delhi Govt invites applns from cos, coops to operate buses in Delhi

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) Concerned over the spate of accidents by bluelines over the past few weeks and to augment the public transport services in Delhi, the state Government today, in the first step to phase out 'killer bluelines', invited applications from cooperative societies and companies for operating a group of 100 or more buses on vacant routes.

Admitting that the operation of buses through individual permits was not congenial for maintaining an efficient, reliable and safe bus service in Delhi, the state transport department today said it had decided to grant stage carriage permits on the 311 vacant routes in Delhi and 195 partially vacant routes (where ten or less than ten buses are operating at present) through corporate houses, big fleet operators and cooperative societies and already registered companies having capacity of operating at least 100 buses.

Accordingly, bulk permits shall be granted to these bodies to operate on the identified routes. In granting the permits, it would be ensured that the overall fleet strength of private buses and DTC fleet is restricted in the proportion of 50: 50.

Also, a complete or bunch of routes shall be alloted to a single entity in such a way to avoid parallel operation between two operators as far as possible.

Presently, 3900 private stage carriage buses are operating on 346 routes. However, these buses are to phased out gradually in a manner so as to synchronize with the induction of fleet of buses by big fleet operators.

In the first phase, the Delhi Government has identified 657 routes, of which 311 are routes where no private stage carriage buses are operating. At the same time, there are 195 routes from where ten or less than ten buses are running on which the Government plans to induct more buses.

While the Government is considering to induct at least 25 buses on vacant routes, additional buss are also proposed to be inducted on partially vacant routes to maintain the desired frequency.

The state Government's decision to invite applications from cooperatives/companies for operating buses in Delhi comes after a series of accidents in recent weeks involving bluelines, leading to widespread concern over their safety.

In fact, in a meeting last week, the Transport Department of Delhi decided that henceforth permits for opration of buses would be given to cooperatives/companies and not individuals to ensure compliance with requisite norms.

UNI