Delhi will introduce premium buses to discourage private vehicle usage.

Premium Bus Service Approved in Delhi to Reduce Private Vehicle Use

New Delhi. The Delhi government has given its approval to the premium bus service scheme, which aims to reduce pollution by decreasing the reliance on private vehicles in the city.

The government had published the draft of the Delhi Motor Vehicle Licensing Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023 on its website in August and sought public feedback. The scheme aims to encourage the middle and upper-middle class to switch to public transport.

The process is now in the final stages

Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot has announced that there are two schemes under the aggregator, namely the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023. The Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregators (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023 was made available for public feedback on the website in May 2023. The compilation process is now in its final stage.

Only electric buses will be included in this scheme

Gehlot further stated that after considering the feedback from all stakeholders, both schemes will soon be sent for approval to the competent authority. Any new premium bus included in the scheme will have to adhere to existing emission norms. Starting from January 1, 2025, only electric buses will be included in this scheme.

Safety of women passengers will have to be ensured

According to the plan, the aggregator will be responsible for ensuring the safety and security of women passengers. This includes providing a quick response mechanism, such as a panic button on the mobile app and web-based application of the buses, which should be operational at all times. Additionally, Application Programming Interface (API) based methods will be implemented to facilitate quick redressal of complaints in coordination with law enforcement agencies.