Delhi Transport body accelerates eBus adoption with depot upgrades

24 Jan 2024 CW Team

A DTC official, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained, "Presently, these depots are utilised for maintenance, washing, and parking purposes. To accommodate electric buses, the installation of charging infrastructure is essential." The charging stations will be installed by the government, while the electric bus companies will be responsible for installing the charging points. The charging process is expected to primarily take place during the night, as most buses operate during the day. Currently, Delhi has four bus depots with charging stations, namely Mundela Kalan, Rohini Sector 37, Rajghat 2, and Mayapuri, each capable of charging around 100 buses simultaneously.

The planned upgrades extend beyond charging infrastructure; the maintenance workshops at the three depots will also be enhanced to support electric buses. Specialised agencies, selected through an open tender process, will carry out the necessary upgrades. Tenders have already been floated for this purpose, and agencies will soon be contracted for the work.

As of now, Delhi boasts 1,300 electric buses in operation, with an additional 1,480 buses slated for induction by the end of March. In January, the Delhi government is expected to launch 500 e-buses. Public bus transportation in Delhi primarily relies on DTC and cluster buses, serving nearly 4.3 million daily commuters.

Transport minister Kailash Gahlot outlined the government's ambitious goal, stating, "The Delhi government aims to have a total of 8,000 electric buses by 2025, gradually introduced in different phases. By 2025, over 80% of Delhi's 10,000 buses will be electric, making electric buses the city's new identity." Currently, Delhi's bus fleet consists of 7,669 buses, with 4,492 under DTC and 3,177 under the cluster scheme.

Amit Bhatt, managing director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, commended Delhi's commitment to decarbonising its bus fleet, emphasising the importance of necessary infrastructure upgrades for effective electric bus operation. "Since Delhi has the largest number of e-buses and is poised for further expansion, it is crucial to ensure that the depots are adequately prepared," he added.

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has announced plans to modernise three of its bus depots, located in east and west Delhi, to accommodate electric buses by the end of April, according to officials involved in the initiative. The selected depots in Ghazipur, East Vinod Nagar, and Shadipur, currently servicing only CNG buses due to the lack of charging facilities, are among the busiest in the capital and have not undergone upgrades in the last decade. With a capacity for 120 buses each, these depots will now be equipped with charging infrastructure to facilitate the transition to electric buses, marking a significant step in the capital's commitment to sustainable transportation. A DTC official, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained, Presently, these depots are utilised for maintenance, washing, and parking purposes. To accommodate electric buses, the installation of charging infrastructure is essential. The charging stations will be installed by the government, while the electric bus companies will be responsible for installing the charging points. The charging process is expected to primarily take place during the night, as most buses operate during the day. Currently, Delhi has four bus depots with charging stations, namely Mundela Kalan, Rohini Sector 37, Rajghat 2, and Mayapuri, each capable of charging around 100 buses simultaneously. The planned upgrades extend beyond charging infrastructure; the maintenance workshops at the three depots will also be enhanced to support electric buses. Specialised agencies, selected through an open tender process, will carry out the necessary upgrades. Tenders have already been floated for this purpose, and agencies will soon be contracted for the work. As of now, Delhi boasts 1,300 electric buses in operation, with an additional 1,480 buses slated for induction by the end of March. In January, the Delhi government is expected to launch 500 e-buses. Public bus transportation in Delhi primarily relies on DTC and cluster buses, serving nearly 4.3 million daily commuters. Transport minister Kailash Gahlot outlined the government's ambitious goal, stating, The Delhi government aims to have a total of 8,000 electric buses by 2025, gradually introduced in different phases. By 2025, over 80% of Delhi's 10,000 buses will be electric, making electric buses the city's new identity. Currently, Delhi's bus fleet consists of 7,669 buses, with 4,492 under DTC and 3,177 under the cluster scheme. Amit Bhatt, managing director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, commended Delhi's commitment to decarbonising its bus fleet, emphasising the importance of necessary infrastructure upgrades for effective electric bus operation. Since Delhi has the largest number of e-buses and is poised for further expansion, it is crucial to ensure that the depots are adequately prepared, he added.