56 women-only bus services, including 26 for Delhi University, to start today

The Delhi government will introduce 56 dedicated women-only electric bus services on Wednesday, including 26 University Ladies Special (U-SPL) services connecting Delhi University colleges. The services will connect residential areas with institutional hubs such as Nehru Place, AIIMS, South Extension, Connaught Place, ITO and the Delhi Secretariat, officials stated.

The U-SPL services will connect colleges including Hindu College, Ramjas College, Daulat Ram College, Shri Ram College of Commerce and Lady Shri Ram College. Distinctive stickers will help commuters identify the women-only buses, office-holders said.

Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh remarked the dedicated services have been planned around the daily travel requirements of working women and students, particularly during peak hours.

Five new electric buses will also commence operating on the Delhi-Karnal route. The buses will make 10 daily trips in each direction on the 133-km route, connecting Delhi with Singhu Border, Rai, Bahalgarh, Murthal, Ganaur, Samalkha, Panipat, Gharaunda and Madhuban, office-holders said. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) currently operates inter-State services to Baraut, Sonipat, Dharuhera, Panipat and Rohtak.

Ms. Gupta will flag off 200 new electric buses, comprising 112 Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) buses and 88 12-metre buses. This will take the number of electric buses in Delhi to 4,938. The total bus fleet will rise to 6,800, comprising 4,938 electric buses and 1,750 CNG buses. “The government aims to expand the fleet to nearly 14,000 buses by FY 2028-29,” Mr. Singh said.

The low-floor, air-conditioned electric buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons and accessibility features for persons with disabilities.

“Delhi’s transport system is moving decisively towards cleaner, safer and more reliable public mobility, with electric buses at the heart of this transformation,” the Minister went on.

Separately, an electric-vehicle charging station will be inaugurated at Rajghat Depot-I. Developed at a cost of over ₹5 crore, it will have four 240-kW chargers capable of supporting heavy commercial electric vehicles and electric cars. More high-capacity charging stations are under construction at other DTC locations, officials stated.