Delhi transport dept to add 2,000 e-buses to its fleet this year

The Delhi transport department is set to induct 2,080 electric buses into its fleet by the end of the year, a senior official confirmed on Monday.

Currently, Delhi’s public transport network comprises around 7,000 buses. However, nearly 1,000 of these are scheduled to be phased out this year, with several already decommissioned due to ageing.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with five different concessioners for the procurement of 1,040 electric buses. Agreements for the second batch of 1,040 will be signed shortly. These buses will compensate for the shortfall created by the retirement of older vehicles,” the official said.

The first lot of 1,040 buses will be introduced under the Centre’s National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP), which aims to promote the adoption of electric buses across the country.

The remaining 1,040 buses will be brought in under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. This initiative is designed to incentivise the rollout of over 14,000 e-buses across nine major Indian cities with populations exceeding four million, making e-mobility more accessible and sustainable.

“We are confident that a sufficient number of buses will be operational in the fleet by December,” the official added.

During her budget address, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reiterated Delhi’s commitment to upgrading its public transport infrastructure with the support of Central funds.

“By the end of this year, we aim to maintain 5,500 buses and expand the fleet to 11,000 by 2026. We will also reassess bus routes to address existing gaps in service,” she had said.

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Delhi currently has 2,152 electric buses, including 1,752 operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and 400 under the DIMTS-Cluster scheme.

(With inputs from PTI)