New Delhi: More than 1,200 Blueline buses will be phased out from the capital's roads by Friday, and the Delhi government is introducing private low-floor buses in several clusters to replace them, it was announced here on Monday.
Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Monday announced a detailed plan for the phase out of Blueline buses from Delhi's roads.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi Secretariat, he said the new Cluster-I low-floor buses which will be replacing the Bluelines would be launched on 32 routes of south Delhi from the end of January 2011.
He said that following the Delhi government's decision taken last month, no permits of Bluelines have been renewed and by December 31, a total of 1,212 such buses would be phased out from the city roads.
"The first cluster buses, owned by private transport company M/s.Star Bus Service, would be introduce 50 cluster buses (35 seating capacity including space for one wheel chair) on Delhi roads by January end. Thereafter more than 50 buses would be added every month to provide safe, efficient and better transportation system for commuters of Delhi," he said.
"The government plans to introduce 17 clusters for different routes on which are not well connected with Delhi Metro/public transport system and has approved five cluster bus services. The remaining cluster 3, 4 & 5 would also be introduced in March, 2011," he added.
The colour code for all cluster buses, will be orange for non-AC buses and purple for AC buses.
"Cluster-I buses containing 231 low-floor buses would cater to the transportation needs of all 32 routes of south Delhi. The buses shall be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) based Automatic Location System and also equipped with Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETMs) based Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), Gas Leakage Detection Alarming System, Emergency Exists & Escape Hatch, Euro-IV environment friendly," the minister added.
He said that DTC has been directed to make adequate arrangements for providing bus services wherever Blueline buses have been removed, so that commuters are not put to any inconvenience.
DTC has already about 6,500 buses in its fleet.
"DTC has been further directed to put its whole fleet on the road for the benefit of the commuters. Over 2,195 drivers have been recruited in DTC and they will provide their services to the commuters by January, 2011 so that more DTC buses in all shifts would be available for commuters," Singh added.