New Delhi: The Delhi government has introduced 56 women-only electric bus services, including dedicated routes for Delhi University students, to improve safety and public transport access for women and students.
Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the services on Wednesday at the Delhi University Sports Complex, where they also flagged off 200 new electric buses. A new electric bus service between Delhi and Karnal and a public charging station at the Delhi Transport Corporation’s Rajghat Depot-1 were also launched, Hindustan Times reported.
Of the 56 women-only services, 30 trips will operate on 15 busy routes, while 26 University Ladies Special trips will run on 13 routes. The services will be available during the busiest morning and evening travel periods.
The routes will connect important work, education and government areas, including Nehru Place, AIIMS, South Extension, R K Puram, Connaught Place, ITO, Delhi Secretariat, Karol Bagh, Kashmere Gate and Shivaji Stadium.
The university services will connect colleges such as Hindu College, Ramjas College, Daulat Ram College, Shri Ram College, Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College and Hansraj College.
Morning trips will run between 7:52 am and 9 am, while evening trips will operate from 4:32 pm to 6:15 pm.
Women police officers, home guards and female staff have been assigned to the services. The buses also have panic buttons linked to the Delhi Police 112 emergency system to help passengers get assistance quickly during emergencies.
Women staff welcome the new services
Women bus staff said they welcomed the new services.
Kiran Chhikara, 26, from Bahadurgarh, is among the women drivers operating the buses. Her father worked as a DTC driver for nearly 15 years but left the job because of the long commute.
Chhikara said she had driven a tractor in her village and wanted to drive heavy vehicles. She applied for the DTC’s women driver recruitment four years ago and has been driving on Delhi’s roads since then.
She said reactions to women driving buses have varied, with some people initially unsure about it while others have appreciated her work.
Krishna Devi, 25, joined bus driver training after DTC opened enrolment for women because she wanted a government job. Her father works as a private school bus driver.
Devi said she is still employed on a contract and has worked with the checking staff for the past two years. She will now work as a conductor on the women-only buses.
The women said they had not yet been told their assigned routes. Drivers are paid Rs 862 a day and receive four days off each month.
Babita Devi, 33, from Charki Dadri in Haryana, was one of three women from her village who completed DTC driver training four years ago. She said her parents supported her decision.
Delhi’s electric bus fleet crosses 5,000
The 200 newly added electric buses include 88 buses measuring 12 metres and 112 nine-metre DEVI buses.
The government said Delhi’s electric bus fleet has now crossed 5,000, while the total bus fleet has reached about 6,800.
The new Delhi-Karnal service will use five air-conditioned electric buses, with 10 trips scheduled each day in both directions.
The government also opened a public charging station at Rajghat Depot-1. It has four 240-kW chargers that can charge buses, heavy commercial electric vehicles and cars.
Gupta said the government aims to increase Delhi’s total bus fleet to around 14,000 by 2028-29, with the focus on providing cleaner and more convenient public transport.
