The Delhi High Court has stepped in to prevent a potential bus shortage in the city. Nearly 1,000 public buses were at risk of going off the roads, but now their permits have been extended till July 15.
This move comes after concerns raised by certain cluster bus service operators whose contracts were about to expire this month.
Currently, there are 3,147 cluster buses operating in Delhi, out of which 997 were scheduled to stop running as their 10-year contract with the Delhi Transport department was ending on June 19. According to The Indian Express, the government’s plan to switch these buses to electric ones faced delays, leading to the need for this interim relief.
Three companies providing cluster bus services – Metro Transit Pvt Ltd, Antony Road Transport Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Goverdhan Transport Co Pvt Ltd – sought interim measures from the Delhi High Court. Their petitions were heard by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who directed the permits to be extended till July 15.
This decision ensures that public buses will continue to operate smoothly until a further decision is made. The court has allowed the Delhi government 15 days to respond to the petitions, with the next hearing scheduled for July 15.
One of the key points raised in the petitions was the request to extend the validity of permits until all buses in the fleet complete 10 years of operation. This measure aims to maintain the entire fleet’s continuity, ensuring that buses remain operational if they are roadworthy.
The dispute stems from agreements made in 2013 between the companies and the Delhi government for the operation, maintenance, and management of Stage Carriage Services in the capital. While the legal process unfolds, the High Court’s intervention provides a temporary reprieve for cluster bus operators and commuters alike.
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