As many as 280 mohalla buses — 9-m-long mini electric buses — parked at bus depots for the last eight months for want of indigenous compliance certificates are set to hit the road soon with the BJP government deciding to launch the service, officials in the Transport Department said Tuesday.
The concept was proposed by the previous AAP government to provide last-mile connectivity for residents staying in densely populated areas with narrow roads, where DTC and cluster buses could not enter or the frequency of service was low.
A senior department official said, “As per guidelines, manufacturers have to submit an indigenous compliance certificate, ensuring that domestic or Make in India products are used while manufacturing these buses. The companies that provided these buses did not submit this, due to which the government did not give permission for operating these buses.”
“Now, some of the companies have submitted certificates for some buses. They have also submitted an affidavit promising to submit the certificates for the remaining buses within six months,” the official added.
The trial run for mohalla buses first began in East Delhi — from Pradhan Enclave to Majlis Park Metro station and from Akshardham Metro station to Mayur Vihar Phase III paper market. Last August, the then AAP government launched two mohalla buses on trial in South Delhi — from Kailash Colony Metro station to PNB Geetanjali and from Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station to Vasant Vihar.
The Transport department had floated tenders to procure 1,900 12-m-long e-buses and 1,040 9-m-long mini e-buses to provide last-mile connectivity to residents of Delhi. Of the 1,900 buses, several have arrived and 400 are yet to join the fleet of regular e-buses. Among the mini e-buses, 280 have arrived so far and will soon operate as mohalla buses, said officials.