Transport Policy – Delhi Government Promotes Public Transit Through Metro Monday Campaign
Transport Policy – Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta joined the newly launched ‘Metro Monday’ campaign under the ‘Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan’ initiative, encouraging residents to prefer public transportation and contribute toward reducing fuel consumption.
The campaign was introduced as part of a wider effort to promote responsible commuting habits and increase public participation in energy-saving measures. Following the Chief Minister’s appeal, ministers and senior government officials also travelled using Delhi Metro services and DTC buses during the day.
Chief Minister Travels by Metro and Feeder Bus
Rekha Gupta began her journey by walking from her residence to Lok Niwas, where she attended a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. After the meeting, she travelled in an electric vehicle to Kashmere Gate Metro Station before boarding the Metro to reach ITO.
From the ITO station, the Chief Minister used a feeder bus service to arrive at the Delhi Secretariat. Cabinet ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh and Ravinder Indraj accompanied her during parts of the initiative.
Speaking about the campaign, Gupta said that individual efforts made in the national interest can collectively strengthen the country’s energy security while also helping maintain economic stability. She stressed the importance of adopting sustainable transport options in everyday life.
Special Transport Arrangements for Government Employees
To support the initiative, the Delhi Transport Corporation announced dedicated transport services for government employees. Special buses will operate from residential areas to nearby Metro stations and onward to the Secretariat.
The service is expected to benefit employees residing in several major localities, including CWG Village, Vasant Kunj, Greater Kailash, Model Town, Dwarka, Timarpur, and Mayur Vihar, among others.
Officials said the move is aimed at improving last-mile connectivity and making public transport more convenient for daily commuters working in government offices.
DEVI Buses to Strengthen Last-Mile Connectivity
In addition to the regular arrangements, DTC will deploy DEVI buses during peak commuting hours. These services will run between 9 am and 11 am in the morning and again from 6 pm to 8 pm in the evening.
The buses will operate from key locations such as IP Metro Station, Bharat Mandapam, the Supreme Court area, Delhi Gate, ITO, and the Delhi Secretariat. Authorities also confirmed that dedicated feeder bus links will be available between the Delhi Secretariat and nearby Metro stations, including ITO Metro Station and Delhi Gate Metro Station.
Officials believe these measures will help reduce dependence on private vehicles while encouraging wider use of integrated public transport systems across the national capital.
Opposition Criticises the Initiative
The Congress party criticised the ‘Metro Monday’ campaign, describing it as a symbolic exercise that does not address larger governance and infrastructure concerns faced by residents of Delhi.
Party leaders alleged that the initiative was being used to shift attention away from issues related to civic administration, development work, and public welfare. They argued that broader structural improvements were needed instead of one-day awareness drives.
Despite the criticism, the Delhi government maintained that the campaign is intended to encourage long-term behavioural change among commuters and support cleaner, more efficient urban transportation.