Delhi Government has allocated over Rs1807 crore for the implementation of various schemes and projects in the transport sector for the 2019-20 in its budget tabled in Delhi Assembly on Tuesday. Out of total Budget, an amount of Rs500 crore has been allocated for the Phase-IV project of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

‘It is very sad to hear that the centre has not even mentioned about the Phase-IV Metro in its budget session and the project has been delayed. I appeal to the central government not to delay the project which most important for the public facility,” said Arvind Kejriwal.

Interestingly, the city will see the presence of a total 4000 buses under both the Cluster and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) scheme in different phases from the next financial years. Out of total estimation, one thousand buses will be added to the DTC fleet by 2019-20. The remaining 3000 buses (electric, Low floor and Standard floor buses) will be procured under Cluster scheme.

 “At present there are 3882 DTC buses are running on 557 routes including 18 NCR routes carrying about 31 lakh passengers per day. 1789 buses are being operated under Cluster Bus scheme wherein more than 12 lakh passengers travel daily. DTC bus fleet will be added by 1000 new buses in 2019-20,” said Mainish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister while presenting the budget.

“There has been a delay in the procurement process of Standard floor buses with the hydraulic lifts. These buses will be bought under cluster scheme,” said Kailash Gahlot, the Transport Minister.

A new scheme “Construction of Bus Queue Shelters” has been proposed to construct the long awaiting/pending 1397 bus queue shelters for which Rs 50 crore has been allotted.

The government has further approved the proposal for construction of six new bus depots at Ghumanhera, Mundela Kalan, Rohini, East Vinod Nagar, Bawana and VIU Burari which will be completed by next year. Apart from this, five new bus depots at Daurala, Kapashera, Bamnauli, Sarai Kale Khan and Narela and two new bus terminals at Dwarka Sector-4 and 12, Vikaspuri and Narela will be constructed at a cost of Rs 150 crore. 

Further, to curb the air pollution level, the government has formulated a draft Electric Vehicle Policy and proposed Rs 100 crore for constituting the State Electric Vehicle Fund in 2019-20 to promote the use of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) in Delhi. “We target to increase 26 percent of E-vehicles in the city by 2024,” said Sisodia.