Reported by Rohan Kumar
Buses in Delhi are an integral part of transportation for many people. Before the metro came around, it was the preferred mode of travel. Even today, they command a higher daily ridership as compared to the swankier air-conditioned metro.
As against 26 lakh ridership on Delhi Metro, buses in Delhi carry around 42 lakh commuters every day.
This is important to understand the role that robust transportation plays in urban mobility. Given the rising pollution in Delhi, it becomes imperative to focus on augmenting the bus infrastructure.
Delhi has more cars than the combined number of cars in the next four metropolitan cities of India. This is despite an extensive metro system and signals a need for large scale investment in other modes of public transport like buses.
Metropolitan cities across the world have a stellar public transportation system that aids in easy and quick urban mobility. For Delhi to develop as a world-class city, there is an urgent need to augment bus infrastructure so that commuters can be incentivised to shift from private vehicles.
Ease of access and comfort will help in public transport getting a preference over private vehicles. Only if there is ample capacity and infrastructure available can we encourage commuters to shift. Not only is it a cheaper alternative to other modes of transport, but it is also an eco-friendly option.
Having been a regular bus user since my teenage years, I’ve seen the issues associated with the bus system closely. However, in spite of the problems, I still believe that buses are the best way to commute in a cheap, eco-friendly manner. It has better last-mile connectivity as compared to Delhi Metro and offers a quicker commute in areas not served by the metro.
The Current State Of Affairs
DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) owns and operates its buses. The entire fleet of DTC, currently around 3,700 buses, were declared overage in 2021, a first for the transport utility since its inception in 1971.
DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System) is the nodal agency responsible for running buses under the Cluster bus scheme by private players. The cluster bus service was envisaged to replace the “killer” Blueline fleet, which has now been phased out from the capital. Another 3,000 buses are running under this scheme as of 2021.
The first and foremost issue with the bus infrastructure is capacity. According to government estimates, a fleet of 11,000 buses is needed to provide a robust transportation system to Delhi. The total fleet, including DTC and cluster buses, has crossed 6,000 as of 2021, a number achieved back in 2010.
The procurement of buses has constantly been marred by corruption allegations and legal hurdles due to court proceedings. A CBI enquiry is pending regarding corruption in the tendering process.
However, the Delhi government has recently added 100 new AC CNG buses to DTC’s fleet and has also flagged off the first electric DTC bus, with a commitment of the city getting 300 buses by April this year.
Commuters’ Woes
Lack of frequency and erratic schedule are some of the problems which every commuter will share if asked. Inadequacy of buses and an ageing fleet leads to overcrowding, long waiting periods as well as difficulty in last-mile connectivity. There is an urgent need for route rationalisation as well because many commuters have to change multiple times.
“My day starts early as I have to change four buses to reach my workplace at Mayapuri. I’m a factory worker and have been working in the same field all my life. Using DTC buses is the most economical option I have,” says Mr Ram Shankar, a factory worker.
On being asked what problems he faces while travelling, Tarun Bisht says, “The time taken via metro is fixed, but the bus journey can take a long time. There should be display boards on all bus stops to show the estimated arrival of a bus so that it’s easier to plan my journey.”
The poor upkeep and maintenance of the fleet often lead to breakdowns and bad commuter experiences due to unkempt, dirty buses.
Safety is another important aspect of travel. Pickpocketing, sexual harassment and robbery are common. Lack of training of drivers and their nonchalant attitude towards commuters makes travel difficult.
The Way Ahead
Given all of these roadblocks, there are a lot of bright spots coming up in Delhi. The introduction of electric buses is a welcome change. One hundred buses were inducted last month, with 200 more expected soon. The charging infrastructure is being put in place.
According to Kailash Gehlot, Transport Ministry Delhi, the government plans to induct more electric buses. Moreover, a target of 10,000 buses on the road has been set for the year 2023.
To improve security, Marshals have been deputed on every bus. CCTV cameras have been installed as well. Free travel for women has been a revolutionary step, with a visible increase in women using buses. Interoperability of Metro cards to buy bus tickets and contactless travel options are some of the new age reforms being rolled out.
A lot more needs to be done to ensure accessibility for all sections of society. This includes step-free entry, refurbished bus stops, right of way for buses, reliable timetable, clean facilities and cashless travel.
A multilateral approach is required with agencies cooperating across the board to develop an inclusive, safe, economical, comfortable and eco-friendly way of commuting in Delhi.
Rohan Kumar is a strategy professional who is currently working as a Mobility Champion — Delhi with Youth Leadership For Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Jhatkaa.org. A hit and run survivor, he advocates for an inclusive and safe urban transport system.