New Delhi, June 9 -- Delhi's public buses are set to face stricter scrutiny, with Transport Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh warning officials that any lapse in passenger service, route operations or commuter safety will invite action. In a review meeting with senior Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) officials on Tuesday, the minister directed strict compliance with service standards and announced surprise inspections to ensure buses operate according to schedule and cater to passengers without discrimination.
Chairing a meeting with DTC Regional Managers, Singh reviewed day-to-day bus operations and emphasized that public transport remains central to Delhi's mobility network.
"Public transport is the backbone of Delhi's mobility system. Every passenger deserves a safe, respectful and reliable journey. Any negligence towards passengers, especially women, senior citizens or Divyangjan, or any deviation from operational norms, will be dealt with strictly. Our focus is to ensure efficient, disciplined and passenger-friendly bus services across Delhi," the minister said.
During the meeting, Singh directed that all DTC buses must halt at designated bus stops and ensure smooth boarding and deboarding of passengers. He stressed that no commuter should be denied a ride under any circumstances and instructed officials to pay special attention to women, senior citizens and Divyangjan passengers.
The minister also underscored the need for courteous behaviour by drivers and conductors. He warned that any instance of misbehaviour, harassment or negligence towards passengers would attract strict disciplinary action.
To strengthen monitoring, Singh sought detailed route-wise reports on bus schedules, operations and service timings. Officials were instructed to regularly submit operational data, which will be reviewed by the minister's office. He also announced surprise field inspections to verify compliance and assess service quality on the ground.
Reviewing route management, Singh called for strict route rationalisation to improve fleet utilisation and commuter convenience. He directed officials to prevent situations where multiple buses run in clusters on the same route while other areas face longer waiting times. Services, he said, should be evenly spaced to provide better frequency and coverage.
The minister further directed that all buses must complete their scheduled trips. In the event of a technical fault or operational disruption, depot authorities must be informed immediately so alternative arrangements can be made without causing inconvenience to passengers.
Singh ordered regular cleaning and maintenance of buses to ensure safe, hygienic commuter services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.