Delhi Transport Corporation

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File:DTC AC Bus.jpg
A DTC AC CNG Bus
File:DTC Bus Green Non AC.jpg
A DTC Non-AC CNG Bus

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a public sector passenger road transport corporation that manages bus services in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. It was incorporated in November 1971 as a wholly owned corporation of the Government of India to provide an efficient, economical and properly coordinated road transport service in Delhi. Its administrative control was transferred to the Department of Transport, Government of Delhi with effect from 5 August 1996.[1]

As of November 2023, DTC is the largest CNG-powered bus service operator in the world,[2][3] and also has the largest number of electric buses in India.[4] It operates from 37 depots and three Interstate Bus Terminals in Delhi: Kashmere Gate ISBT, Anand Vihar ISBT, and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT.

History

The Ministry of Transport, Government of India, took over local bus services in Delhi in May 1948 when the services offered by the incumbent service provider Gwalior and Northern India Transport Company Ltd. was found to be insufficient for the growing demand. For this purpose, a Delhi Road Transport Authority was constituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. This authority became an undertaking of Municipal Corporation of Delhi by an Act of Parliament in April 1958.[5]

In 1971, on the recommendations of a working group of the Planning Commission, which concluded that Delhi Transport as an extension of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had not been functioning efficiently and adequately that was leading to leakage of revenue and very high operational costs, the Government of India took over management of the undertaking by passing the Delhi Road Transport Laws (Amendment) Act.[6] The newly constituted Delhi Transport Corporation took over assets and liabilities from the DTU up until 2 November 1971.

The administrative control of DTC was transferred to the Department of Transport, Government of Delhi, with effect from 5 August 1996 after writing off all the Union government loans along with the interest accrued on them (amounting to Template:INRConvert).[7]

Overview

The objectives of the Delhi Transport Corporation are defined under Section 18 of the Delhi Road Transport Laws (Amendment) Act, 1971, in conjunction with Section 22 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950.[8] These objectives encompass the following responsibilities:[5]

  • To provide an efficient, economical, reliable and properly coordinated system of road transport in Delhi and any extended area (while acting on business principles).
  • To achieve a high level operational efficiency.
  • To charge fares not exceeding those prescribed by the State Under Section 43(1)(i) of the Motor Vehicles Act.
  • To attain financial self-sufficiency.

Organizational Structure

The management of the Delhi Transport Corporation is overseen by a Board of Directors, which includes the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) and other directors appointed by the Government of Delhi. The CMD, serving as the organization's Chief Executive, is responsible for managing day-to-day operations. This role is supported by a team comprising four Chief General Managers, six Regional Managers, and Depot Managers.[1]

Services

DTC has an extensive network of bus routes spread all over Delhi. A few routes traverse the neighbouring cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. As of June 2023, of the 606 total bus routes in Delhi, 259 were operated by DTC, 209 were operated by DIMTS, and 138 routes were operated on by both the authorities under the Department of Transport's 'Unified Time Table'.[9][10] These routes are serviced by 7,135 buses, with 4,088 of them under DTC, out of 37 depots and 3 ISBTs. The average number of trips in FY 2021-22 was 31,084 per day.[11] The number of routes being operated by the corporation has been steadily falling over the years under the Delhi government's policy of a 50:50 ratio of DTC buses and cluster buses on every route.[12][13]

DTC also provides various other provisions like night services, tourist services, and airport express services.[14] It also provides buses to Delhi Police[15] and used to do so for some schools (however, this was stopped in July 2022).[16][17]

Inter-state bus services

Until 2010, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operated interstate bus services to cities in North India. These services were discontinued after the fleet transitioned to CNG, a fuel that was not widely available in other states at the time. As of 2023, the Delhi government plans to relaunch interstate services with a fleet of 1,600 premium buses connecting major cities like Dehradun, Jaipur, Shimla, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu, and Agra with Delhi. Under this plan, DTC will manage the services in collaboration with selected private operators. The fleet will include 1,200 electric buses designed for routes up to 200 kilometers (120 miles) and 400 BS-VI CNG buses for longer distances.[18][19][20]

Fleet

As of March 2025, DTC has a fleet of 4,359 buses, with 3,109 CNG buses and 1,250 electric buses.[21] This makes its fleet the largest CNG bus fleet in the world, and the largest electric bus fleet in India.[2][4] The buses are dispatched from 37 bus depots across Delhi.[22] With Delhi's total bus fleet numbering 7,135, 57% of these are operated by the DTC.

DTC has witnessed two major fleet improvements in its history. The first significant overhaul to its fleet happened in anticipation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games,[23] when DTC received 3,125 new CNG low-floor buses (2500 first, followed by 625),[24][25] which increased its fleet size to a high of 6,204 buses.[26] This marked the first time DTC acquired low-floor buses, and since then, all subsequent orders have exclusively been for this type of bus. The new buses consisted of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned Tata-Marcopolo low-floor Starbuses and Ashok Leyland ultra-low-floor (ULF) buses. The air-conditioned buses were painted red, while the non-air-conditioned ones were painted green, making them easily distinguishable.[27] These new buses had features such as automatic transmission, power steering, ramps for disabled people, and stop-request buttons located on grab bars. With the introduction of these buses, Delhi's fleet of 2,400 privately owned "killer" Blueline buses was gradually phased out.[28][29] In 2011, DTC planned to make use of biogas generated from sewage treatment plants to run its buses.[30]

The second major upgrade to DTC's fleet began in 2021 when the Delhi government decided to exclusively procure electric buses going forward.[31] Subsequently, with deliveries in multiple batches,[32][33][34] DTC's fleet of electric buses has grown to 1,752, making it the largest e-bus fleet in India.[35] The new buses feature digital ticketing, GPS, CCTV, and panic buttons, all connected to a two-way centralised command and control center at Kashmere Gate.[36] The Delhi transport department plans to deploy 2,080 more electric buses in Delhi in 2025.[35]

Depots

File:DTC low-floor bus.jpg
A DTC Bus on Route 740
File:A JBM Eco-Life e12 AC Electric Bus of the Delhi Transport Corporation.jpg
An AC Electric Bus of the DTC

DTC manages its operations from 37 bus depots, which are organised into four regions: East, North, South, and West.[37] 36 of these depots are located in Delhi, with 1 located in the neighbouring city of Noida.[22] These facilities handle regular maintenance and cleaning of buses. To complement DTC's existing depots, the Delhi government is constructing 9 additional bus depots at Kirari, East Vinod Nagar 2, Narela, Daurala, Burari, Savda Ghevra, Kapashera, Gadaipur, and Chattarpur.[38][39]

Following are the depots:[22]

Number Depot Name
1 Khanpur Depot
2 GTB Nagar Depot
3 Dichaun Kalan Depot
4 Dwarka Sector 2 Depot
5 Dwarka Sector 8 Depot
6 Dwarka Sector 26 Depot
7 Mayur Vihar II Depot
8 Ghazipur Depot
9 Jahangirpuri Depot
10 Janakpuri-1 Depot
11 Janakpuri-2 Depot
12 Patparganj Depot
13 Okhla Depot
14 Kanjhawla Depot
15 Keshopur Depot
16 Mayapuri Depot
17 Mundela Kalan Depot
19 Nand Nagari Depot
19 Nangloi Depot
20 Narela Depot
21 Noida Depot
22 Paschim Vihar Depot
23 Rajghat-1 Depot
24 Rajghat-2 Depot
25 Rohini Sec-37 Depot
26 Rohini-1 Depot
27 Rohini-2 Depot
28 Rohini-3 Depot
29 Rohini-4 Depot
30 Sarojini Nagar Depot
31 Shadipur-1 Depot
32 Shadipur-2 Depot
33 Srinivaspuri Depot
34 Sukhdev Vihar Depot
35 Tehkhand Depot
36 Vasant Vihar Depot
37 Wazirpur Depot

Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS)

The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System is a transport consultancy and infrastructure development firm. It is an equal equity joint venture of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi [40]

The DIMTS operates a fleet of 1,725 buses under the cluster scheme, categorised by their colour: orange for non-air-conditioned buses and blue for air-conditioned ones. These buses are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, which enable real-time tracking of their movement and geographic location through the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system. This system provides Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) and other relevant data to passengers via an app.Template:Cn

Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) are used on DIMTS buses as part of the Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system, replacing pre-printed tickets. Since August 2018, passengers can also use DMRC Metro Cards to purchase tickets on these buses.Template:Cn

Under the cluster scheme, private concessionaires are responsible for supplying the buses, ensuring their cleaning and maintenance, and providing staff. In return, they are compensated based on an indexed cost system. This system includes:

  • A fixed component tied to the cost of the bus,
  • A variable component covering fuel and maintenance costs, and
  • A wage-related component adjusted according to the Consumer Price Index.

This model ensures fair compensation while maintaining cost efficiency and service quality.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Revenue and Social & Economic Sectors (PSUs) for the year ended 31 March 2015. cag.gov.in. CAG of India(13 June 2016). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dying Delhi Transport Corporation. The Hindu(2021-09-06). Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  3. ↑ City bus transport: Need to chart a new route(11 June 2016).
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Delhi tops in terms of electric buses after Arvind Kejriwal govt introduces 400 new buses on streets. Live Mint(8 September 2023). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Twenty Second Report on Delhi Transport Corporation Including Comparative Analysis of Transport in Metropolitan Cities pertaining to Ministry of Surface Transport. eparlib.nic.in. Parliament of India(30 April 1993). Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ↑ The Delhi Road Transport Law (Amendment) Act, 1971. indiacode.nic.in. Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Annual Audit Report - 2019-20. transport.delhi.gov.in. Department of Transport, Government of Delhi. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ↑ The Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950. indiacode.nic.in. Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Delhi bus routes reworked to cut 'dead mileage'; commuters complain of poor frequency, longer wait time. Indian Express(19 June 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Corporatization of Private Stage Carriage Buses Scheme Private. dimts.in. DIMTS. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Chapter 12, Transport - Economic Survey of Delhi, 2022-23. delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in. Delhi government(20 March 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Citizens Charter (Updated as on July, 2015). transport.delhi.gov.in. Transport Department, Delhi government. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Revenue and Social & Economic Sectors (PSUs) for the year ended 31 March 2015. cag.gov.in. CAG of India(31 August 2016). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Services - Delhi Transport Corporation. dtc.delhi.gov.in. DTC. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Delhi: 360 of 576 buses on special hire to cops brought back. Times of India(5 February 2021). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Delhi govt orders withdrawal of 350 DTC buses provided to private schools. Live Mint(14 July 2022). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Delhi schools, students in a jam as state-owned bus fleet is withdrawn. Business Standard(22 August 2022). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  18. ↑ Plans to restart interstate DTC services with 1,600 luxury buses. Hindustan Times(22 August 2023). Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Delhi Transport Corporation plans premium buses for long haul. Times of India(11 January 2023). Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  20. ↑ Delhi government to soon operate premium intercity buses. PTI(10 January 2023). Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  21. ↑ 900 New E-Buses To Be Rolled Out Soon. The Times of India(2025-03-19). Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Depot Locator
  23. ↑ Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, Singh, Prakash. gettyimages.in. Prakash Singh(9 September 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  24. ↑ Report No. 6 of 2011 – Performance Audit of XIXth Commonwealth Games. cag.gov.in. CAG of India(5 August 2011). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  25. ↑ Cummins bags DTC order for 3,125 CNG engines. motorindiaonline. Motor India(18 November 2008). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  26. ↑ Baseline Report - Enabling Strategic Plan: Master Plan for Delhi 2041. online.dda.org.in. DDA(16 July 2021). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  27. ↑ DTC Buses: Red, Green and Orange - What do they stand for?(6 May 2019). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  28. ↑ Blueline buses to be off Delhi roads from December 14. PTI(25 October 2010). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Blueline's 20-year killer run comes to a close. Hindustan Times(28 June 2012). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  30. ↑ DTC buses to run on biofuel. Times of India(10 October 2011). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  31. ↑ Only e-buses will be added to city fleet in future: Kailash Gahlot. Hindustan Times(27 October 2021). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  32. ↑ Delhi to enjoy free rides on DTC's e-buses for three days, starting Tuesday. Indian Express(23 May 2022). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal flags off 150 electric buses, commuters to get free rides for 3 days. Economic Times(24 May 2022). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  34. ↑ By 2025-end, Delhi to add 4k electric buses in phases. ANI(28 November 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Delhi transport dept to add 2 000 e-buses to its fleet this year. The Week. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
  36. ↑ Delhi expands electric bus fleet: 400 new buses flagged off. ANI(5 September 2023). Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  37. ↑ DTC at a Glance. dtc-elearning.com. DTC Training School. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  38. ↑ World-class bus service station at Savda Ghevra soon: Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot. Times of India(21 April 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  39. ↑ Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot Lays Foundation Stone Of Kirari Bus Depot. PTI(9 April 2023). Retrieved 28 November 2023.>
  40. ↑ Welcome to Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System Ltd. www.dimts.in. Retrieved 2022-12-09.

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