100 private buses join 'DTC Paryavaran Bus Sewa'; to run from January 1 during odd-even vehicle trial in Delhi

New Delhi: Around 100 private buses were on Thursday given 'special permits' for plying during a 15-day trial period of odd-even vehicles numbers scheme, starting January 1 in the national capital. Delhi government, however, aims at running 6,000 additional buses, including 2,000 school buses, under 'DTC Paryavaran Bus Sewa,' bearing route numbers as similar to the operational buses in the city.

The registration for special permits will continue till December 20 and transport department will conduct a trial of 'DTC Paryavaran Bus Sewa' on December 27 before starting the service on January 1, a senior government official said. "On the first day of registration, around 100 private buses were registered for special permits for plying from January 1 to January 15," the official said.

DTC's spokesperson R S Minhas also confirmed that around hundred private buses have been registered. However, the official said that as Thursday was the first day of registration, many bus owners could not come, but in the remaining days, private bus operators will come in good numbers. On Monday, the Delhi government has said that it will start a four-day registration process for 6,000 private buses that would run under 'DTC Paryavaran Bus Sewa' in the national capital.

"Government will begin the four-day registration process, starting from December 17, for such buses. After their registration under 'DTC Prayawaran Bus Sewa', they will operate under DTC," Transport Minister Gopal Rai had said, adding that bus passes issued by DTC will also be applicable in these buses.

If 6,000 buses are registered with this special service, the total number of buses will reach 12,000 in the national capital. On December 4, the Arvind Kejriwal government had announced that 4,000 buses will be "general" buses while 2,000 buses to be taken from schools after their duty hours will have 50 per cent seats reserved for women. The government recently issued a helpline number - 011-23370209, for interested applicants who want to register with this new bus service.