Electric Buses – Delhi Adds 300 Vehicles to Expand Clean Public Transport
Electric Buses – Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday launched 300 new electric buses for the capital’s public transport network. During the programme at RK Puram in south Delhi, they also laid the foundation stone for a multi-level bus depot intended to support the growing electric fleet.
Fleet strength moves closer to long-term target
The latest induction has taken the Delhi Transport Corporation fleet to nearly 6,600 buses. Of these, 4,845 are electric buses, while 1,755 run on compressed natural gas. The Delhi government has set a target of developing a modern fleet of about 14,000 buses by 2028-29.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the addition of the buses and the planned depot would help improve public transport services while supporting cleaner mobility in the national capital.
New buses include accessibility and safety features
Chief Minister Gupta said the newly introduced vehicles are low-floor and air-conditioned, with facilities designed to make travel easier for a wider range of passengers, including people with disabilities.
The buses are fitted with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, GPS-based tracking and passenger information systems. These features are intended to improve passenger safety, assist operators in monitoring services and provide commuters with updated travel information.
Gupta said the electric buses will operate without tailpipe emissions, helping reduce pollution from road transport. She added that the quieter vehicles are expected to offer a more comfortable experience for passengers while contributing to lower carbon emissions in the city.
DEVI and 12-metre buses join the network
The newly added fleet includes 195 nine-metre electric buses operating under the DEVI service and 105 twelve-metre electric buses. The expansion is linked to the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy 2026, which focuses on increasing the use of electric vehicles and building the infrastructure needed to support them.
Under the policy, all new intra-state buses added by the Delhi Transport Corporation and the Transport Department after the policy notification are required to be electric. Funding for the induction of the new buses is being provided jointly through the Centre’s PM E-Drive initiative.
Four electric depots begin operations
Four electric bus depots at Narela Sector A-1, Narela Sector A-4, Rithala and Kohat Enclave were also inaugurated remotely during the event. The facilities are expected to provide parking, maintenance and operational support for electric buses.
According to Gupta, the two depots in Narela together can park 250 DEVI electric buses. The Kohat Enclave depot has capacity for 30 buses, while the Rithala depot can accommodate 90 buses. The sites have been developed with dedicated parking bays, internal roads and maintenance-related facilities.
Automated testing station opens at Nand Nagri
A four-lane Automated Testing Station was also inaugurated at the Nand Nagri DTC Depot. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the station will conduct automated fitness tests for heavy vehicles, light vehicles and two-wheelers.
The facility is expected to handle annual fitness testing for up to 52,000 heavy and light vehicles, along with 20,000 two-wheelers. Officials said the station will help improve the testing process through automated checks and expanded capacity.