Delhi govt introduces nation’s first-ever premium bus aggregator scheme

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₹5 lakh and will be valid for a five-year period. Renewals for another five years can be acquired before the expiry by paying ₹2,500. No licence fee will be levied on electric buses.

The licence holders are required to operate and maintain a fleet of at least 25 premium buses of mini, midi, or standard sizes, to be made operational within 90 days from the date of licence grant, the statement said. Under the scheme, licence holders will be permitted to determine bus routes provided fares are dynamic and no lower than the peak fare of Delhi Transport Corporation AC buses. Only pre-booked digital ticketing will be permissible in these buses, with no physical tickets issued.

All charges from passengers are to be collected exclusively through electronic or digital payment modes, it said. In a Hindi post on X on Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "I hope this service will bring a big change in the public transport system of Delhi. People will leave their cars and scooters and start travelling in buses.

We worked hard in the last four years to make it true." Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said the notification of the scheme marks a historic moment for the national capital. "These premium buses are a testament to our commitment to providing world-class, comfortable, and sustainable travel options to the people of Delhi. With the introduction of this scheme, we are not just connecting destinations.

We are paving the way to a greener and smarter future. Our focus is clear: offer the best quality service while safeguarding the environment," he said. Delhi currently has a fleet size of 7,135 buses with 4,088 buses under the Delhi Transport Corporation and 3,047 under DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit