DTC set to retire 2,624 CNG buses by Feb 26

Delhi: In its move to make Delhi greener and more sustainable, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has prepared a comprehensive action plan to retire its fleet of CNG buses by February 2026, contributing to reduced air pollution and a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

According to data accessed by Patriot, a total of 2,624 CNG buses will be taken off the roads over a period of 14 months, starting in December 2024.

“The process will begin in December 2024 with the retirement of 188 buses, reaching a total of 950 by the end of March 2025,” the data stated.

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“The second quarter will see a steady continuation of the process, with 121 buses phased out in April, 232 in May, and 104 in June. By the mid-point of 2025, the cumulative total will reach 1,407 buses. The numbers will further escalate in the latter half of the year, with 452 buses scheduled for retirement in July and 463 in September, taking the tally to 2,322 by the end of the third quarter,” the data continued.

“The final months of the transition will see smaller batches being retired. October 2025 will witness the removal of 90 buses, November will add 15 more, and December will account for another 105. The final phase, spanning January and February 2026, will see the retirement of 67 and 25 buses, respectively, bringing the total to 2,624,” the data further revealed.

Providing insight into the reason behind the phasing out of CNG buses in Delhi, highly placed sources in the Transport Department, Delhi Government, told Patriot, “Around 2,760 CNG buses have completed their operational life. To avoid any major incidents and breakdowns, the DTC will phase out these buses in a planned manner to ensure commuters do not face any inconvenience while travelling across the city.”

Sources also informed that by December 2025, DTC would be left with only 100 CNG buses.

“The DTC has the largest fleet of electric buses in India with a total of 1,602 buses. However, more than 3,500 electric buses will be added to the fleet soon,” he said.

E-buses to be augmented in the city’s fleet

The DTC and the Cluster & Metro Feeder services are set to expand their electric bus (E-bus) fleets as part of the city’s efforts to promote sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation.

Sources said, “Currently, the DTC operates 1,602 E-buses, while the Cluster & Metro Feeder services have 400 in their fleet. To strengthen this network, the incoming fleet will include 1,038 nine-metre E-buses under the NEBP-I category and 200 twelve-metre E-buses under the GC category for the DTC. Additionally, the Cluster & Metro Feeder services will receive 1,040 nine-metre E-buses (NEBP-I) and 1,600 twelve-metre E-buses.”

“Looking ahead, the city has also projected a demand for more electric buses to meet growing commuter needs. Under the PM E-Drive initiative, the DTC has a tentative demand for 2,660 additional E-buses, while the Cluster & Metro Feeder services require 2,460 more,” they added.

Delhi’s current transport fleet

Delhi operates a fleet of 7,425 buses across 67 depots under the DTC and the Cluster Operations managed by the Transport Department.

This extensive fleet includes 5,423 CNG buses and 2,002 electric buses.

The DTC oversees 4,278 buses across 44 depots, comprising 2,676 CNG buses and 1,602 electric buses.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) manages 3,147 buses across 23 depots, with 2,747 CNG buses and 400 electric buses.

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Monthly retirement of buses

*Data accessed by Patriot from the Transport Department, Delhi Government