280 Mini Electric Mohalla Buses Set To Hit Delhi Roads After BJP Government Nod

After an eight-month delay due to the 'missing' indigenous compliance certificates, 280 mini electric mohalla buses are finally ready to be deployed in Delhi, Indian Express reported citing transport department officials.

The BJP government has decided to launch the mohalla bus service.

Proposed by the erstwhile AAP government, the mohalla bus plan aimed to improve last-mile connectivity for residents staying in densely populated areas with narrow roads, where DTC and cluster buses could not enter or the frequency of service was low.

A senior department official explained that the manufacturers were required to provide an indigenous compliance certificate ensuring that domestic or Make in India products were used while manufacturing these buses.

"The companies that provided these buses did not submit this, due to which the government did not give permission for operating these buses," the official was quoted as saying by IE.

“Now, some of the companies have submitted certificates for some buses. They have also submitted an affidavit promising to submit the certificates for the remaining buses within six months,” the official added.

Trial runs of mohalla buses started in East Delhi on routes like Pradhan Enclave to Majlis Park metro station, and Akshardham metro station to Mayur Vihar Phase III paper market.

Last August, the then AAP government rolled out two mohalla buses on trial in South Delhi — from Kailash Colony Metro station to PNB Geetanjali and from Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station to Vasant Vihar.

To enhance last-mile transport options, the Transport Department had invited bids for 1,900 12-m-long e-buses and 1,040 9-m-long mini e-buses.

Of the 1,900 buses, several have arrived and 400 are yet to join the fleet of regular e-buses.

Among the mini variants, 280 have arrive so far and will soon run as mohalla buses.

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