Over ₹300 Crore Payment Stuck with Delhi Government; Operators Unable to Pay Salaries or Maintain Vehicles
The ongoing delay in payments to private bus operators by the Delhi Government has resulted in a severe disruption of public bus services across the city. Private operators have reportedly stopped the operation of hundreds of buses due to an acute financial crunch, citing non-receipt of payments since February 2025.
Staff Salaries and Vehicle Repairs Hit
Operators stated they are no longer able to pay salaries to their staff or fund regular vehicle maintenance. As a result, buses that have broken down are being taken off the roads. With no money for repairs, these buses are now idle in depots. Many are yet to return to service, causing a significant dent in the city’s public transport network.
₹300 Crore Dues Unpaid
According to the operators, the Delhi Transport Department owes them nearly ₹300 crore. Since the formation of the new government, not a single installment has been cleared. Despite several representations to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, there has been no relief. Operators claim they’ve been paying staff and managing operations by dipping into their reserve funds for the past three months, but those funds have now dried up.
Hundreds of Buses Off the Roads
Reports suggest that several hundred buses have already been withdrawn from service. The workshops are flooded with vehicles needing urgent repairs, but without funds, their return to the streets remains uncertain.
