The Mohalla bus service, which aims to provide connectivity to areas in Delhi having narrow roads or which witness overcrowding, began its trial run on Monday.
Mohalla Bus: Delhi government’s ambitious Mohalla Bus service commenced its trial run on two routes in the national capital on Monday. The bus service, which aims to provide connectivity to areas in the city having narrow roads or which witness overcrowding, began its trial run on the Majlis Park to Pradhan Enclave and Akshardham to Mayur Vihar Phase III routes, officials said.
The buses were flagged off by Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot.
Mohalla bus for Delhi, This bus is under trial…on two routes of Delhi.. pic.twitter.com/94EjZaSDT9
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Addressing a presser after flagging off the trial run of the Mohalla Bus service, Gahlot said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government plans to roll out
The trial run of the Delhi government’s mohalla bus service commenced on Monday on two routes, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said 2,080 buses under the scheme, of which 1,040 buses will be operated by the DTC and the rest by DIMTS.
“The trial run has begun on two routes — Majlis Park to Pradhan Enclave and Akshardham to Mayur Vihar Phase III. The trial will go on for a week and based on the learnings and feedback we will roll out the scheme in two to three weeks,” he said.
Gahlot said the bus service aims to address the issue of last-mile connectivity in the national capital.
What is the Mohalla Bus scheme?
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, under its ambitious Mohalla Bus Scheme, aims to deploy nine-metre-long electric buses to provide neighbourhood or feeder bus services. As per initial plans, 2,080 such buses are planned to be rolled by 2025.
Officials said the Mohalla buses will specifically cater to areas having narrow roads or which witness overcrowding, adding that the vehicles will have a blue and green colour combination with ‘Mohalla Bus’ written on them.
Mohalla Bus designed for shorter routes
Earlier this month, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot revealed that the Mohalla buses have 23 passenger seats and are designed for shorter routes within Delhi, serving as a vital mode of first and last-mile connectivity for commuters.
As per officials, 25 percent seats in the buses will be pink, reserved exclusively for women who will also get free rides through ‘Pink passes’.
“Mohalla buses will help boost first and last-mile connectivity for the people, particularly in areas where the standard 12-metre buses face operational challenges due to their size and turning radius,” they said.
Earlier, in March this year, Gahlot had inspected a prototype of a nine-metre Mohalla bus at the Rajghat bus depot and travelled on it to attend the assembly budget session.
Delhi aims to have a total of 10,480 buses by the end of 2025, out of which 80 per cent will be electric.
(With PTI inputs)