Arvind Kejriwal Flags Off 150 Electric Buses In Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday after flagging off 150 such buses that
Delhi government aims to launch 2,000 electric buses within a year.
"We flagged off 150 buses today. One hundred fifty more will be added next month. These are your buses. Please take care of them, don't make them dirty. These buses will reduce pollution in Delhi," he urged people while interacting with reporters.
The chief minister flagged off the buses from the Indraprastha Depot and boarded one of them to reach the Rajghat Cluster Bus Depot. He was accompanied by Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and chief secretary Naresh Kumar.
According to a report by news agency PTI, the Delhi government has allocated 1,862 crores for getting a large number of electric buses over the next 10 years, while the Centre has provided 150 crores. The Delhi CM thanked the central government for providing the funds and said the target is to get 2,000 electric buses in a year. “We give them the credit. Work should happen in Delhi," he added.
He further said that it is for the first time in the history of Delhi that 7,200 buses will be plying on the roads of the national capital, adding the AAP government plans to procure 600-700 CNG buses as the manufacturing of electric buses takes time.
The transport department in an official communication on Monday said, "All the officers and the operational crew of DTC may be informed accordingly and not to insist commuters for purchase of tickets, during the aforesaid period of 03 days in all pure electric buses of DTC." as people in Delhi will have free bus rides for three days.