In view of the lack of adequate space for parking of DTC buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation may construct multi-storey bus depot. “We are also looking at constructing multi-storey depots in the city as it is getting increasingly difficult to identify land for construction of depots. A feasibility study will be carried out to see if this is a viable option,” said a Transport Department official on Friday.
He added that shortage of space for buses may lead to delay in procurement of 1,600 cluster buses in the Capital. The Delhi Government had signed an agreement with a private agency for procuring 1,600 cluster buses on Thursday, but unavailability of around 20 acres of land is a cause of concern for setting up bus depots in the Capital. There is shortage of buses in Delhi and it is resulting in inconvenience to people who are dependent on public transport. Seven bus depots to be constructed in Vasant Kunj and Kushak Nallah and Dwarka to accommodate the buses.
According to a senior DTC official, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been dilly-dallying on the issue of land allotment for the past two years. The corporation needs around 200 acres across the city to build bus depots, but it has been allotted only 10 acres of usable land.
“Though the agreement has been signed but the Government cannot take delivery as there is no space for them. Where these buses will be parked, is a big issue. Earlier, DDA has identified two plots each of around two acres for the purpose in Rohini, but it was found that around three acres has been encroached. Another plot identified by the DDA in Vasant Kunj is under litigation,” he said.
“Following several meetings in the past two years, only about 10 acres of useful land have been allotted towards the project so far,” a senior official of DTC added. According to the sources, 15 acres of land had been allotted in Paschim Vihar but it was later declared a green area, with only five acres remaining available to the department.
He added that the DTC and the DDA have to work together to come up with a working plan and avoid undue delays. Till now, the only space available was at the Sunehri and Kushak Nallah parking lots, where buses from cluster 2, 3, 4 and 5 are parked except the Millennium Bus Depot where Cluster 1 buses are parked.
