DTC to augment fleet strength by 2009

New Delhi, Sept 10 (UNI) The Delhi Transport Corporation today submitted before the Delhi High Court its plan to augment DTC's fleet by March 2009.

Appearing for the State Government, Mukta Gupta told the division bench, headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal that three months time was too short to meet the target of 11000 buses. She also added that the Government intended to keep 60 to 40 as the ratio of the DTC buses to the private buses.

Since the move to phase out blueline buses will begin soon, the High Court has ordered the State Government to involve private transport companies such as Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland in the process to provide an alternative. The court also directed the DTC to begin within 6 weeks the process of installing the Global Positioning System on the buses.

Significantly, the DTC has sought relaxation in rules of recruitment of drivers as its advertisement inviting applications for the post of 2485 drivers drew a poor response. The High court asked the State Government for its opinion in the matter.

The court also asked Pune based Automotive Research Association of India to give its opinion on how to make the speed governors tamper proof. The Blueline buses owners had several complained against dearth of speed governors in the market.

UNI