The Delhi government is planning to procure a larger number of nine-metre electric buses instead of the 12-metre variants, citing the Capital’s congested roads, manoeuvrability challenges, and improved cost efficiency. Officials noted that the shorter buses are better equipped to serve the dense, high-traffic areas that dominate Delhi’s transport landscape.

A senior transport department official stated that the nine-metre fleet introduced during the tenure of the Rekha Gupta government under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) scheme has proved more effective for navigating narrow stretches, sharp turns, and thickly populated neighbourhoods. Except for the Outer Ring Road, the 12-metre buses often face operational difficulties across most corridors.

The shift in procurement strategy is aimed at enhancing service reliability and improving last-mile connectivity across the city.