NEW DELHI: Delhi government has started a 15-day assessment for the mohalla bus service and has invited public feedback before finalising the routes.
The transport ministry said people can send suggestions on mohallabusfeedback@gmail.com. It has also deployed technical teams in different areas to conduct the study.
In this year’s budget, the government had announced mohalla bus service under which nine-metre-long air-conditioned buses would be brought to improve last-mile connectivity. Officials said initially, 100 mohalla buses will be launched in a couple of months.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, “The smaller size nine-meter buses shall operate on routes not accessible by 12-meter buses and will further enhance first- and last-mile connectivity for bus users.”
“By constituting teams across the city for taking feedback from people, we are ensuring all important routes are covered by mohalla buses, connecting key places and points of interest in Delhi,” he added.
Gahlot said feedback from people has been invited as it has always been an important parameter to come out with a solution directly impacting their lives.
The teams will visit Metro stations, bus terminals, stops and various localities in Delhi. A senior transport department official said the teams would evaluate the demand for last-mile connectivity in each area and study the preferences of residents regarding transportation modes. They would also assess the feasibility of roads in each locality, including factors such as road width, encroachments and operational constraints. The teams would evaluate the existing public transport services in the area, considering the distance passengers need to walk to access the modes of transportation.
Data collected will be digitised and utilised to determine the origin and destination of the proposed mohalla bus services in each locality. Delhi government plans to introduce 2,180 such buses by 2025, specifically designed to cater to areas where road width is limited or where overcrowding prevents regular 12-meter buses from operating.
