Delhi Expands Electric Bus Fleet to 1,300, As LG, CM Flag Off 500 New E-Buses

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly flagged off a fleet of 500 electric buses in the capital on Thursday, elevating the total count of electric buses in Delhi to 1,300. This move positions Delhi as the city with the highest number of electric buses in the country.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, in a statement on social media platform 'X', expressed pride in the accomplishment, highlighting that no other city in India boasts such a significant fleet of electric buses.

बधाई दिल्ली! आज से 500 इलेक्ट्रिक बसें दिल्ली की सड़कों पर उतर रही हैं और E-बसों की संख्या अब 1300 हो गई है। CM @ArvindKejriwal LIVE #KejriwalEVRevolution https://t.co/xgr0AWonj5

— Kailash Gahlot (@kgahlot) December 14, 2023

"Delhi will now have the maximum number of electric buses in the country," stated Gahlot, emphasising the city's commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation. The addition of 500 new electric buses supplements the existing 800 electric buses that have been operational on Delhi roads since January 2022.

The newly introduced state-of-the-art electric buses are equipped with modern technologies and prioritised passenger safety features. These include air conditioners, CCTV cameras, bus kneeling with ramp facilities for accessibility, panic buttons, and designated pink seats for women passengers.

To enhance safety measures, the buses are fitted with live video streaming capabilities in case of emergencies, fire detection, and suppression systems to protect passengers from potential fire incidents. The entire fleet will be under the direct surveillance of the Central Command Control room.

This recent addition follows the flagging off of 400 electric buses in September, demonstrating Delhi's commitment to transitioning to cleaner and greener modes of public transportation. Currently, the Delhi government manages 3,670 DTC buses and 3,033 under a cluster of bus services. With an ambitious vision, the government aims to further expand the city's bus fleet by adding 5,000 more buses in the near future. This concerted effort aligns with the goal of improving public transport accessibility, reducing vehicular pollution, and promoting sustainable urban mobility in the national capital.