Odd-Even takes over Delhi: DTC to hire 500 buses, Metro frequency up
Delhi government on Thursday issued a set of directions to its various agencies after announcing its decision to roll out the odd-even car rationing drive.
To boost public transport, that is going to be the lifeline of the city for five days starting November 13, the Delhi Transport Corporation was asked to hire at least 500 buses during this period.
DTC managing director Sandeep Kumar said arrangements have been made to bring in private stage carriage permit holders whom the corporation will pay on per kilometre basis.
“We are not reaching out to schools this time. These are private bus owners and the buses that we take from them will be serving the public till March 15 next year,” he said.
DTC’s fleet, at 3,951 buses, is at a seven year low, with no buses being added to its fleet. A proposal to add 1,000 more buses got the cabinet’s approval on September 1, action yet to be taken.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has already increased the frequency of trains from Thursday and said that it will maintain the same frequency during odd-even. DMRC will run 3,317 train trips instead of 3,131, to provide increased capacity.
These trips are increased by inducting trains from the operational maintenance reserve kept in the metro train depots by optimizing the required maintenance schedule.
The Delhi Metro currently operates with a fleet of 227 train sets, comprising 128 six coach, 58 eight coach and 41 four coach trains, across all its corridors. Usually 200 of them operate and rest undergoes maintenance.
It will also run an additional 100 mini buses on 20 routes during the odd and even phase.
-PTC News
