Delhi govt plans to add 3k buses to boost public transport, premium bus for well-off class

NEW DELHI: Delhi government has planned to add 3,000 new buses this year and introduce premium buses for the well-off class to augment public transport as it wants to implement the odd-even car-rationing at regular intervals.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that as per the plan, 1,000 buses to be run under cluster system will ply on roads from April-May while 1,000 air-conditioned low-floor buses will hit the streets from August.

The Aam Aadmi Party government has also decided to launch a ' premium bus service' with higher fares, a step aimed at encouraging the well-off class to use public transport.

"Under 'Premium Bus Service', we will run 1,000 buses by the end of this year. These buses will have AC, water, magazine, marshals, wi-fi and other facilities," Rai told reporters here.

Delhi government will start the premium service for the higher-income group class, most of whom use cars to go to office. The fares of this service will be higher in comparison to normal bus service, he said.

"These buses will ply only on selected routes where the elite class is residing and working. They can also book their seats in these buses online," Rai said.

Giving details about the 1,000 cluster buses, Rai said that a cabinet note has been prepared in this regard and it will be cleared by the cabinet next week," the minister said.

Rai said the government seeks to augment public transport system as it plans to implement the odd-even scheme at regular intervals in Delhi.

He had recently said that in the next phase of odd-even, two-wheelers will continue to be exempted.