AC BUSES IN DELHI WILL PAVE WAY FOR NOVEL TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

Air-conditioned buses will be run in Delhi for reducing dependence on private vehicles and combatting pollution.

- RAHUL GAHLAWAT

The residents of Delhi are set to experience a new level of public transportation with the upcoming launch of airconditioned buses operated by private companies. Scheduled to begin in August, this initiative is part of the Delhi government’s Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme. This scheme, introduced last year, aims to reduce the use of private vehicles within the city and combat pollution.

Officials have announced that Uber and Aaveg are the two aggregators licensed to operate these premium buses in the Delhi-NCR region. The routes for these services are currently being finalised, with a target to launch the buses by the end of this month or the first week of August.

The scheme defines a “premium bus” as a fully air-conditioned luxury vehicle with a minimum seating capacity of nine passengers. These buses will feature pre-reserved reclining seats, Wi-Fi, GPS, and CCTV. The buses must be less than three years old if they run on CNG, and from January 1, 2025, only electric buses will be allowed to join the service.