Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely is likely to hold a meeting with the Blueline bus operators on Monday to decide the future of nearly 1,600 buses that had been taken off the roads during the Commonwealth Games. The bus operators had wanted to resume the services after the event but the government had deferred taking a decision till October 25.
After the DTC won accolades for good service due to its new fleet of low-floor buses, the issue of Blueline buses not being popular with Delhiites, despite the fact that they ferry a very high number of commuters, had made the government go for a re-think on whether to allow the buses to return on their previous routes. Buses plying on more than 130 routes on which various Games venues fell, had been taken off to ensure that they did not leave a bad impression on the visitors.
The government, which has been trying to phaseout the Blueline buses for the past few years but has not been able to do so, has been emboldened by the induction of modern buses in the DTC fleet, which is likely to increase further in the near future. A decision not to allow Blueline buses in the Lutyens’ Delhi has already been taken. Sources pointed out that the government may begin by permanently disallowing 1,000 Blueline buses from plying.
On the other hand, the Blueline bus operators have been claiming that they have been peacefully accepting the government decision taken in the wake of the Games. However, after the event, the government should let them back resume services as they were facing hardships.