New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- Delhi will add 150 electric buses to its public transport fleet next month as the Transport Department steps up work on depots and charging infrastructure to support further expansion of e-buses, Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Monday.
Singh reviewed projects under the National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) and PM E-Drive during a meeting with the Transport Department and said infrastructure was being developed alongside the planned bus deployment.
"Delhi government is developing Bus Depots and charging infrastructure in a coordinated manner, with every site closely monitored, so that new electric buses can be deployed without delay," Singh said.
Delhi currently has 5,088 electric buses operating from 40 depots. Charger installation is underway at three additional depots, while five depots with a planned capacity of 768 buses are being prepared under the NEBP.
Under PM E-Drive-I, 16 depots with capacity for 2,800 electric buses are planned. Another 16 depots, with capacity for 2,710 buses, are proposed under PM E-Drive-II, with deliveries expected in phases over the next two years. The government is also developing depots at Daurala and Jhuljhuli, with capacities of 250 and 500 buses respectively, which are expected to cater to passengers from rural areas.
To expand the available space for depots and charging stations, the Transport Department has sought land from the DDA at five locations, Tikri Kalan Village, Jaunti Village, Mungeshpur Village, Bakkarwala and Gazipur Mandi.
It has also sought charging-station space from the DDA, MCD and DMRC, besides land from the DMRC to expand the Rithala depot. The Directorate of Panchayat has allocated land to the DTC and Transport Department for additional depot and charging infrastructure.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.