Updated till date: 10 Aug 2024

Target: To encourage the upper middle class to switch to public transport i.e. ease traffic & vehicular pollution control^[1]

Uber & Aaveg already secured License for premium bus service as of 16 May 2024^[2]
-- Expected flag off the buses to happen in August 2024^[3]

Hinderances by BJP caused years of Delay as the proposal was initially introduced in 2016 but then LG withheld assent, later BJP leaders made corruption complaint to ACB but just like every other case, nothing came out of the complaint^[4]

¶ Features^[5]

This scheme allows Private players to operate an app-based bus service with luxury features

“People will leave their cars & scooters and start travelling in buses. We worked hard in the last four years to make it true” - CM Arvind Kejriwal^[4:1]

• App based: Provide only App based service, with only digital tickets and fare collection
• Premium Buses: Must have AC, WiFi, GPS, CCTV, Panic Button 2x2 seats and reclining seats(Optional)
• Pre-booked passengers only: Ticket booking shall be at least 2 minutes before the boarding time at any stop
• No Standing Passenger^[6]: There will be no provision to stand in these buses
• Base fare can not be less than the peak fare of Govt AC buses
• The bus service would be intra-Delhi for now

¶ Operator conditions^[4:2][1:1]

From 1 January 2025, the entire bus fleet should be electric

• Operators must have a fleet of at least 25 premium buses
• Pre-notified routes on the mobile or web-based application
• The license holder may determine potential routes on which the vehicles operated by it shall ply
• CNG buses not older than three years will be eligible to join the fleet

¶ Timeline

21 Nov 2023: Delhi Govt finally notified Premium Buses Service Scheme^[4:3]

• 2016^[4:4]:
  • AAP Delhi approved Premium bus service
  • LG withheld assent
  • BJP leaders filed corruption complaint to ACB
• 2017
• 2018
  • Hurdles
• 2023^[4:5]:
  • 27 May 2023: Draft policy release for feedback^[7]
  • 20 October 2023: Delhi AAP government approved
  • 17 Nov 2023: LG approved it

References

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1. https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-government-premium-bus-aggregator-scheme-upper-middle-class-public-transport-2451581-2023-10-20 ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/2-ride-hailing-services-get-licence-to-operate-under-premium-bus-scheme-in-delhi/articleshow/110163078.cms ↩︎

3. https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/ubers-premium-bus-service-in-delhi-ncr-starts-in-august-will-have-ac-wifi-cctv-6125706 ↩︎

4. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-govt-notifies-app-based-premium-bus-service-scheme/article67559707.ece ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

5. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/105399336.cms ↩︎

6. https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/delhi-to-launch-premium-bus-service-bookings-can-be-made-on-app-343674-2022-08-04 ↩︎

7. https://theprint.in/india/delhi-govt-releases-notification-of-draft-scheme-for-premium-bus-service/1597466/ ↩︎