Delhi plans bus depots as commercial centres

The two multi-level bus depots in the works

- Snehil Sinha

NEW DELHI: In a bid to address severe space constraints across its bus depots and unlock new sources of revenue, the Delhi government is planning to develop at least five multi-level bus depots that will also include commercial spaces, transport minister Pankaj Singh said on Wednesday. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the city's ageing transport infrastructure while simultaneously increasing the non-fare earnings of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

"We're identifying land parcels where such depots can be developed. The depots have to be located in areas where regular heavy vehicle movement does not cause congestion, and the depot itself should have enough space to make it feasible for buses to be parked in multiple levels. There should also be enough space for the circulation of buses along with parking space for other vehicles. Additionally, it should be located in an area where there is demand for commercial development," said Singh.