When It Comes To Procuring Buses, Delhi Government Misses The Bus

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi’s (GNCTD) proposal to induct 2,000 buses – 1,000 electric and 1,000 powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) – seems to have hit a roadblock with both missing their deadline to receive cabinet approval, reports The Hindu. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had set 30 April as the deadline to obtain approval from the cabinet that met yesterday (9 May).

As per the Delhi budget 2018-2019 that was presented by Sisodia, both sets of buses were to be procured under the cluster scheme. The cluster bus scheme was made operational by former chief minister Sheila Dixit in 2011 wherein private firms would operate clusters of buses in the city. The scheme was brought in after the earlier Blueline bus fleet – notorious for the number of road accidents – was phased out.

Both proposals were reportedly ready on time but did not make it to the agenda of the cabinet meeting. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot however said that the project was “on track”.

The proposal for electric buses were circulated among various departments including the environment, law and justice, and finance ministries of the Union Territory. Some feedback from six different departments too were being addressed.

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