Mohalla Buses: To cover narrow lanes/congested areas

Last Updated: 10 Sept 2024

First and last mile connectivity
Shorter AC buses for easy maneuvering through narrow streets & congested areas[1]

TARGET: Total 2180 buses by 2025[2] as announced as part of 2023-24 Delhi budget[3]

Trial run with 2 buses Started on 15 July and Full service to be started in September 2024[4]
-- Launch of service will likely with 50 new electric buses[2:1]

100 buses which were acquired from DMRC also be run as part of Mohalla Bus Initiative[5]

Bus Features

  • 9 meter long AC buses with 23 passenger seats[2:2]
  • 25% seats are pink i.e. reserved for women[2:3]
  • Battery 196kW with a range of 120-130km i.e. easily complete 10-15 round trips on a single charge[2:4]
  • Panic buttons, CCTVs and GPD enabled[1:1]
  • Internal announcements of destinations[1:2]
  • Total 2080 buses: 1040 to be operated by DTC and rest 1040 by DIMTS[4:1]

Implementation Details

International expert consultation on 17 April 2023: With help of International Council of Clean Transport (ICCT), global consultantation was done under Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot chairmanship[6]

[2:5]

Route plan

  • The route survey completed based on the public feedback[3:1]
  • Survey data is being tallied with the population data of those, road infrastructure and width of roads[3:2]
  • Fare collection through common mobility card or One Delhi card [1:3]

Recognitions (Mohalla buses)

"The launch of Delhi’s mohalla bus service marks a potential game-changer in the way we view the role of buses in a city’s overall development and progress. By leveraging the flexibility of buses and tailoring services to meet the needs of local communities, this initiative has the potential to revolutionise public transportation in Delhi and beyond"
-- Amit Bhatt, MD(India), International Council of Clean Transport (ICCT) [7]

"I would be glad to have a service that is reliable, comfortable, clean and less crowded that I can use instead of a car"
-- OP Aggarwal, Senior Fellow at Niti Aayog [7:1]

The rollout of the service has been delayed due to the disengagement of 437 consultants and experts following the directions of Delhi LG V K Saxena[3:3]

References:

  1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-to-launch-electric-mohalla-buses-for-last-mile-connectivity-by-end-of-april-to-cover-east-north-east-areas-and-rural-parts-of-the-city-101680547014097.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/mohalla-buses-likely-to-begin-ops-by-july-end-in-delhi-101720117147171.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/gahlot-to-meet-mlas-for-rollout-of-mohalla-buses.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/delhi-mohalla-buses-still-far-from-being-deployed-as-vehicles-yet-to-arrive-124082600856_1.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/mohalla-bus-trials-launched-on-two-new-routes-101724869007988.html ↩︎

  6. https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/global-experts-to-give-inputs-to-delhi-govt-about-mohalla-bus-scheme-2358796-2023-04-12 ↩︎

  7. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-govt-consults-international-experts-for-new-mohalla-bus-scheme-to-connect-congested-areas-with-electric-small-and-medium-sized-buses-101681809145730.html ↩︎ ↩︎