Swanky AC buses hit Delhi roads

Gear up for a luxurious ride aboard a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus. The swanky, cherry-coloured, CNG-propelled, low-floor air-conditioned DTC buses finally rolled out on Delhi roads on Thursday. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off first fleet of eight AC buses at India Gate lawns on Thursday.

The buses will carry passengers from Friday morning.

These buses will initially ply on three routes —two buses on Mudrika route, and three buses each on 522 (Dr Ambedkar Nagar terminal to New Delhi Railway Station) and 534 (Anand Vihar Bus Terminal to Qutub Minar). The starting point of the Mudrika buses will be Moolchand. The fare ranges Rs 10 to Rs 25.

"We have tried to cover major office areas, commercial complexes and residential areas with these routes. Buses on route number 522 will connect areas like Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, CGO Complex, India Habitat Centre, India International Centre, Khan Market and Connaught Place. Similarly, buses on route no. 534 will connect ITO and Nehru Place," DTC managing director Ramesh Negi said. He added that paying capacity of prospective commuters has also been taken into account while finalising the routes.

The DTC is expected to have 25 low-floor AC buses by end of June.

With a fleet of 25 buses, DTC is expected to run AC buses on a maximum of six routes. They added that efforts would be made to have buses connecting all major office and commercial areas across the city.