Delhi gets 300 electric buses, three new bus depots

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday flagged off 300 new electric buses, comprising 195 nine-metre ‘DEVi’ buses and 105 regular 12-metre buses, and laid the foundation stone for a high-security prison in Narela.

“The newly inducted buses are low-floor, air-conditioned vehicles designed to provide passengers with safe, comfortable and accessible travel, including for persons with disabilities,” said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was also present on the occasion. She added that each bus is equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, real-time GPS tracking, a passenger information system and other smart features.

“With zero tailpipe emissions, these buses will play an important role in improving Delhi’s air quality, reducing carbon emissions and providing citizens with a quieter, more comfortable and environment-friendly travel experience,” the Chief Minister said.

With the induction of these buses, Delhi’s public transport fleet has grown to nearly 6,600 buses, including 4,845 electric buses and 1,755 CNG buses. “The Delhi government aims to build a modern fleet of around 14,000 buses by 2028-29,” Ms. Gupta said.

Three new bus depots

The Chief Minister also inaugurated three new bus depots at Narela, Rithala and Kohat Enclave. The electric bus depots at Narela Sector A-1 and A-4 have a parking capacity of 250 DEVi buses. The Kohat Enclave electric bus depot can accommodate 30 electric buses, while the Rithala depot can house 90.

According to an official, the Kohat Enclave depot also includes an administrative building, service pit, repair shop, washing pit, store, security room and electrical substation.

An automated testing station at the Nand Nagri DTC depot was also inaugurated. It will enable fully automated fitness testing of heavy, light and two-wheeler vehicles. The station has the capacity to conduct fitness tests for 52,000 heavy and light vehicles and 20,000 two-wheelers every year, the official said.

New high-security prison

Meanwhile, another official said the high-security prison project launched by Mr. Shah in Narela will be developed with ₹100 crore allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Delhi government will bear the remaining cost. The facility will have a capacity of more than 250 inmates.

The official said the new prison would follow a radial-axial architectural design, with a central vantage point, allowing officers to monitor inmate cells. The design would minimise the possibility of interaction among inmates, thereby preventing gang networking and reducing other security risks.

The prison will feature AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, a command-and-control centre, automated locking systems, full-body scanners, X-ray baggage scanners, mobile signal jammers, video conferencing facilities, and an in-house court complex, the official added. Officers will be provided with body-worn cameras and biometric access control. Each cell will have an independent toilet and bathing facility to minimise unnecessary inmate movement.