Delhi govt to notify Motor Vehicle Aggregator scheme today. Here's how it will affect commuters

livemint.com:

Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi will notify its 'Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023' later today. The scheme introduces the nation's first-ever aggregator scheme exclusively tailored for premium buses and calls for a modal shift in public transportation. The buses that will come to be a part of the initiative will have exceptional quality, comfort, and reliability, and will lead to a reduction in congestion and air pollution, the government said.

The scheme defines a "Premium Bus" as any full-AC luxury public bus having a seating capacity of no less than nine passengers, pre-reserved reclining seats, and equipped with Wifi, GPS, and CCTV, the statement said. The scheme stipulates that the 'onboarded' bus must not be more than three years old, in case the bus is CNG, and the buses joining the service after January 1, 2025, must be electric. Under the scheme, only pre-booked digital ticketing will be permissible, with no physical tickets issued.

All charges from passengers are to be collected exclusively through electronic or digital payment modes. In addition to ensuring the safety and security of the passengers, the scheme will encourage aggregators and delivery service providers to adopt electric vehicles for their services to reduce air pollution in the national capital. The scheme paves the way for the inclusion of bike taxis as service providers and mandates that the aggregators onboard electric two-wheelers for passenger transport service.