Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal flags off 150 electric buses, commuters to get free rides for 3 days

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday flagged off 150 electric buses from the Indraprastha Depot and took a ride in one of them.

"Delhi has written a new chapter in the fight against pollution today. From today, 150 electric AC buses have started running on the roads of Delhi simultaneously. I also traveled in the bus, it has all the modern facilities. You must also travel once in Delhi's luxurious electric bus," the Chief Minister tweeted.



The Delhi government allocated Rs 1,862 crore for getting electric buses over the next 10 years. The Centre has provided Rs 150 crore.

Kejriwal said the target is to get 2,000 electric buses in a year. Asked about the Centre's fund, he said "We are thankful to the Centre. We give them the credit. Work should happen in Delhi."

Commuters in Delhi will get to travel free of cost in Delhi Transport Corporation's electric buses for three days starting May 24 in a move to encourage people to promote e-buses.

An official communication from the transport department on Monday said, "I am directed to inform that it has been decided by the competent authority to allow free travel to all the bus commuters in all the pure electric buses of DTC, for a period from 24.05.2022 to 26.05.2022.

"All the officers and the operational crew of DTC may be informed accordingly and not to insist commuters for purchase of tickets, during the aforesaid period of 03 days in all pure electric buses of DTC."

The first e-bus was flagged off by Kejriwal in January this year.

At that time, the chief minister had said 300 more such buses will soon join the public transport in the city.

Terming the flag-off as the beginning of an era of the environment-friendly public transport system in the capital, the chief minister had said 2,000 electric buses will be procured by the government in the coming years.