NEW DELHI: At a time when Delhi citizens face day-to-day commuting blues with town bus fleet operating at 50% of its estimated requirement of 11,000 buses, the Arvind Kejriwal government assured the Supreme Court on Thursday that it would induct 1,000 low ground electric buses in levels from June-July 2019.
“The council of ministers headed by means of leader minister Arvind Kejriwal gave in principle approval on July 11 for engagement of one,000 low ground electric buses which might be anticipated to start arriving from June-July 2019. It determined to interact Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) as marketing consultant for the challenge,” the state government mentioned in its affidavit positioned before Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta.
“The time frame for putting in place charging stations for electric buses will be about 9-11 months from the date of award of contract to the concessionaire who will induct natural electric buses. This is in consonance with the coverage of Delhi government to fight air pollution,” it mentioned.
To the court docket’s query why budget for purchase of buses were not utilised, the Delhi government mentioned just about Rs 200 crore used to be released in 2012-13 to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) however the budget were not utilised. “Further, Rs 150 crore has been allotted in the finances estimates for the year 2018-19 for purchase of buses by means of DTC,” it mentioned with out elaborating at the causes for non-utilisation of budget.
The SC had requested the federal government to discover the possibility of using hydrogen gasoline mobile buses. The Kejriwal government through suggest Wasim A Qadri mentioned the technology used to be evolving and used to be not but examined worldwide. It mentioned the Union government will have to read about the feasibility of hydrogen gasoline mobile operated buses before experimenting them on Delhi roads.
“A pilot challenge in affiliation with the analysis and construction division of Indian Oil Corporation to habits a trial run of some present buses on HCNG gasoline (a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gasoline) is being labored out,” it mentioned.
The court docket had sought clarification from the Delhi government as to why it used to be operating handiest five,554 buses as in opposition to requirement of 11,000 buses, an estimate labored out in 1998. The state government mentioned it had taken a decision on September 1 remaining year to induct 2,000 standard ground buses however on June 1, the Delhi High Court stayed the verdict on a PIL, which pleaded that handiest low ground buses will have to be allowed to ply in Delhi. “In case the keep is vacated, 2,000 standard ground peak buses will be able for induction in the town bus fleet,” it added.
It mentioned the Delhi cabinet on May 18 determined to procure an extra 2,000 buses by means of May 2020 and the DTC board on June 25 had approved procurement of 500 low ground CNG buses. However, it mentioned to handle a bus fleet of 11,000, the Delhi government required further land for parking.
“The SC may recognize that government of NCT of Delhi has made sincere efforts to enhance town bus fleet however may just not achieve the specified degree principally because of paucity of depot space and because of repeated failure of tenders referred to as by means of DTC for procurement of buses. Disposal of topic in the case of utilisation of Millennium Bus Depot being sub-judice these days before National Green Tribunal and allotment of extra land by means of Delhi Development Authority will assist Delhi government achieve the target of 11,000 buses at the earliest,” it mentioned.
The state mentioned 10 acres each in Vasant Kunj and Rohini have been allotted for bus depots. “Despite paying the entire amount to DDA for those two plots, the same has not but been handed over to Delhi government because of litigation,” it added.
“The council of ministers headed by means of leader minister Arvind Kejriwal gave in principle approval on July 11 for engagement of one,000 low ground electric buses which might be anticipated to start arriving from June-July 2019. It determined to interact Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) as marketing consultant for the challenge,” the state government mentioned in its affidavit positioned before Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta.
“The time frame for putting in place charging stations for electric buses will be about 9-11 months from the date of award of contract to the concessionaire who will induct natural electric buses. This is in consonance with the coverage of Delhi government to fight air pollution,” it mentioned.
To the court docket’s query why budget for purchase of buses were not utilised, the Delhi government mentioned just about Rs 200 crore used to be released in 2012-13 to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) however the budget were not utilised. “Further, Rs 150 crore has been allotted in the finances estimates for the year 2018-19 for purchase of buses by means of DTC,” it mentioned with out elaborating at the causes for non-utilisation of budget.
The SC had requested the federal government to discover the possibility of using hydrogen gasoline mobile buses. The Kejriwal government through suggest Wasim A Qadri mentioned the technology used to be evolving and used to be not but examined worldwide. It mentioned the Union government will have to read about the feasibility of hydrogen gasoline mobile operated buses before experimenting them on Delhi roads.
“A pilot challenge in affiliation with the analysis and construction division of Indian Oil Corporation to habits a trial run of some present buses on HCNG gasoline (a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gasoline) is being labored out,” it mentioned.
The court docket had sought clarification from the Delhi government as to why it used to be operating handiest five,554 buses as in opposition to requirement of 11,000 buses, an estimate labored out in 1998. The state government mentioned it had taken a decision on September 1 remaining year to induct 2,000 standard ground buses however on June 1, the Delhi High Court stayed the verdict on a PIL, which pleaded that handiest low ground buses will have to be allowed to ply in Delhi. “In case the keep is vacated, 2,000 standard ground peak buses will be able for induction in the town bus fleet,” it added.
It mentioned the Delhi cabinet on May 18 determined to procure an extra 2,000 buses by means of May 2020 and the DTC board on June 25 had approved procurement of 500 low ground CNG buses. However, it mentioned to handle a bus fleet of 11,000, the Delhi government required further land for parking.
“The SC may recognize that government of NCT of Delhi has made sincere efforts to enhance town bus fleet however may just not achieve the specified degree principally because of paucity of depot space and because of repeated failure of tenders referred to as by means of DTC for procurement of buses. Disposal of topic in the case of utilisation of Millennium Bus Depot being sub-judice these days before National Green Tribunal and allotment of extra land by means of Delhi Development Authority will assist Delhi government achieve the target of 11,000 buses at the earliest,” it mentioned.
The state mentioned 10 acres each in Vasant Kunj and Rohini have been allotted for bus depots. “Despite paying the entire amount to DDA for those two plots, the same has not but been handed over to Delhi government because of litigation,” it added.
Delhi: 1,000 e-buses to be rolled out in a year
![Delhi: 1,000 e-buses to be rolled out in a year]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 21, 2018
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