Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday flagged off 105 new orange-coloured DEVI (Delhi EV Inter-connector) electric buses and inaugurated the newly built Sector A9 depot in Narela, and said the Delhi government aims to make the city’s entire public transport system electric by 2027.
In addition to launching 105 brand-new orange DEVI (Delhi EV Inter-connector) electric buses and opening the recently constructed Sector A9 depot in Narela, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the city's government plans to electrify the entire public transport system by 2027. Gupta asserted that the depot's completion in just ninety days shows the BJP government's dedication to keeping its word to Delhi citizens. According to her, the government is actively working to electrify the entire transportation system by 2027, with over 2,000 electric buses currently in service in Delhi.
She also attacked the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying it fostered corruption and drove the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) into losses. "The lifeline of Delhi is its buses. However, under the previous administration, corruption crept in, buses were reduced, and routes were cut," she said. Gupta asserted that DTC had lost Rs 65,000 crore under the previous administration, citing a CAG report.
She also claimed that panic buttons were placed "just for show" and that corruption even tainted the free bus ride program for women. Gupta highlighted the new electric buses' nine-meter length and stated that they were built on an area of about 4000 square meters.
Both buses and passengers can use the terminal's contemporary amenities. It is designed as a contemporary public transportation hub with three bus bays and two high-tech sheds (34 and 40 meters long). Bus parking, a new pass area, staff and passenger canteens, medical facilities, sanitary restrooms, a RO water plant, a pantry, and EV charging stations are all included, guaranteeing both basic and cutting-edge amenities.
According to Gupta, this terminal, which cost Rs 2.63 crore to build, will run 75 buses on nine main routes, the majority of which will be electric. The Delhi Secretariat, Uttam Nagar, Mori Gate, Old Delhi Railway Station, and border areas will all be connected by these buses.
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In addition to enhancing transit in North-West Delhi, the depot will advance the goal of clean, green public transportation across the city. Attending the event, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh claimed that the previous administration had denied people their right to better buses. "The previous administration was unable to deliver these buses by the last monsoon. The BJP is keeping that promise today," he declared. According to him, this is the first time a whole fleet of orange-colored DEVI buses has been introduced; previously, the buses were green in colour. As we have been doing since the introduction of the DEVI buses, we will keep expanding their numbers because this adds more vibrancy.
Yogender Chandolia, a Delhi BJP leader, denied the AAP's assertion that this was merely a rebranding effort. "These buses would have been on the road months ago if they were owned by the AAP. These are brand-new buses that the BJP bought and imported. "The AAP reused old electric buses instead of purchasing new ones," he said.
With 23 seats and 17 standing spaces, the new, small DEVI buses are perfect for negotiating Delhi's congested streets and will help people, according to Chandolia. He went on to say, "This is the real Rekha Gupta Model - clean, modern, and efficient public transport." About 2,000 electric buses are currently in service in Delhi, and officials stated that this number will keep growing in order to electrify the entire bus fleet by 2027.
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