Raturi asks UTC to seek UP’s help to extend bus services as Delhi bars old buses
Wednesday, 20 NOVEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a significant move to mitigate the challenges faced by commuters due to the restrictions on old diesel buses entering Delhi, chief secretary Radha Raturi has instructed the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) to coordinate with Uttar Pradesh for extending bus services to Ghaziabad’s Mohan Nagar and Kaushambi areas. Buses meeting pollution control standards will be allowed direct entry into Delhi, while regular buses will operate up to the Delhi border points, Mohan Nagar and Kaushambi. Raturi held an urgent meeting with senior officials of the Transport department to discuss the issue of about 200 UTC buses being barred from entering Delhi. The restrictions imposed by the Delhi government on older diesel buses have impacted UTC operations significantly in the past few days. Previously, the corporation operated 504 bus services daily to Delhi but with the new pollution regulations in place, this number has dropped to 310. As per the officials, about 200 buses have been restricted from operating. Considering this, Raturi directed the department to take immediate action and prepare a short term action plan soon to ensure the availability of adequate bus services, particularly to Delhi. She instructed the Transport secretary to work towards the proposal to purchase 175 new buses and for the operation of 30 newly acquired buses. The officials informed Raturi that despite recent challenges, the load factor of UTC bus services to Delhi has been increased from 40 per cent to nearly 90-100 per cent, ensuring no major inconvenience to passengers. Besides this, the department has already completed the tender process for procuring 100 CNG buses which will comply with pollution control norms and will soon be operational. Raturi said that the State government is focusing on increasing the frequency of roadways buses, particularly on weekends, to cater to the growing demand. With these measures, the government aims to ensure that public transport services remain efficient and accessible despite the operational limitations caused by the restrictions, she added. She said that the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also issued directions to address public concerns and clarify misconceptions about the current situation to ensure misleading information is not spread among the public.
