After route diversions, commuters face reduced DTC services with hundreds of buses pulled for protest duty

Commuters in Delhi are facing a twin challenge due to the protest-related restrictions: diversions that have disrupted vehicular movement and reduced Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) services, with hundreds of buses deployed for police duty.

‘600 buses taken off’

The government has not shared details on how many buses have been withdrawn from regular routes for deployment with security agencies in central Delhi. However, the DTC Ekta Karamchari Union, which comprises contractual and outsourced employees of the public transporter, said at least 600 buses had been deployed to transport security personnel or detainees.

“The bus service has reduced over the past two days. The service is irregular anyway as buses either don’t stop or are delayed. If this is due to the protests, then the DTC should have made separate arrangements for passengers,” said Ram Gopal, who works at an establishment in Karol Bagh.

Route diversions near Jantar Mantar also caused problems for commuters.

Ankita, a third-year Delhi University student, said she had to walk to reach her destination at Patel Chowk after the DTC bus dropped her 2 kilometre away from the designated bus stop.

Since October 2, specific routes around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Janpath have been diverted owing to security restrictions.

The union president, Lalit Chaudhary, said, “Some routes around Jantar Mantar, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg and Janpath have been diverted. Buses from depots of Rani Khera and Dichaon Kalan in Najafgarh have been pulled in for protests, to transport security personnel and detainees or to be used as barricades in restricted areas where prohibitory orders have been enforced.”

‘Own workers affected’

While the drivers have been asked to work for the police, conductors have been deployed for various other duties.

“Some have been deputed far away from their homes and are facing difficulty in commuting to their workplaces,” Mr. Chaudhary said. Major service disruptions have been reported on DTC routes such as 433, 445A, 415, 417, 423 and 930.