‘Delhi government already placed order so for the buses.’
The Mohalla bus service is set to soon hit the streets of the national capital to address the transportation issues in areas lacking public transport facilities. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced during the ongoing budget session of the Delhi Assembly that the Mohalla bus scheme, consisting of 9-meter-long buses to enhance neighborhood connectivity in areas with no existing public bus service, may soon be implemented.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized and condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), stating that they are making false announcements to deceive the people of Delhi.
Addressing concerns about the non-availability of public buses in Rajokri village in south Delhi, Gahlot explained that the government has already placed orders for the buses, but the delivery process has been delayed. He expressed optimism that the buses would be delivered by the end of the current month or the beginning of the next month, as the transport department is actively engaging with manufacturers to expedite the delivery process.
Gahlot emphasized that the conventional 12-meter-long buses serving the city cannot operate effectively in these areas due to their length, as they lack sufficient space to maneuver in villages like Rajokri and other congested locations. He stated, “The issue is not limited to Rajokri village. In several other places, the large buses face challenges due to encroaching traffic and congestion. The government aims to address these concerns through the Mohalla bus scheme.”
On the contrary, BJP MLA Jitendra Mahajan criticized the AAP for not improving the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) fleet. He claimed that the Kejriwal government has not purchased any buses in the past nine years, relying solely on cluster services or central government policies to operate buses. Mahajan described the Mohalla bus announcement as fake, akin to other unfulfilled promises, pointing out the deteriorating condition of the DTC fleet.
The Mohalla bus service was introduced in the 2023–24 budget of the Delhi government, with the goal of providing last-mile connectivity to the people of Delhi. An official familiar with the matter stated, “The scheme will introduce 2000 small AC buses in phases, with the initial phase rolling out 200 buses. The government aims to enhance last-mile connectivity in areas where regular buses face challenges, with routes determined based on factors such as existing public transport services and passenger accessibility.”