logo
Delhi Govt to transform DTC: Smart Cards, high-tech bus shelters and ISBT upgrades on agenda

Delhi Govt to transform DTC: Smart Cards, high-tech bus shelters and ISBT upgrades on agenda

Time of India16-07-2025
The Delhi government has initiated a major overhaul of the
Delhi Transport Corporation
(
DTC
) to provide world-class public transport services to the citizens of the national capital.
According to a release, under this initiative,
smart travel cards
will soon be introduced, bus routes are being restructured, interstate bus terminals (ISBTs) will be modernised, and
bus queue shelters
(BQSs) will be redesigned to be more comfortable and high-tech.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, while addressing a high-level review meeting of the Transport Department on Tuesday, asserted that with the guidance and support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the dream of equipping Delhi with world-class public transport will soon be realised.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
The meeting was attended by Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Singh, Chief Secretary Dharmendra, Transport Commissioner Niharika Rai, and other senior officials.
CM Gupta stated that DTC, which is currently running at a loss of Rs 60,000 crore due to past mismanagement, will be revitalised and transformed into a robust transport service.
Live Events
She further added that the number of both small (DEVI) and large buses is being increased, and the new routes are being strategically planned to enhance accessibility for commuters.
"Our government envisions DTC as a symbol of excellent transport service in Delhi," the CM stated, as per the release.
Delhi CM, while reviewing the city's transport systems, laid out key developments that will shape Delhi's public transport future.
One of the major announcements was the introduction of a
unified smart card system
for all modes of public transport in Delhi. This card will enable seamless travel across DTC buses, Delhi Metro, and the upcoming Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The Chief Minister also announced a special Pink Card for women and transgender residents, which will allow them free travel in DTC buses. Discussions are currently underway with banks to ensure a smooth and foolproof rollout of these cards, aimed at making public transportation more accessible and hassle-free.
CM Gupta also shared the current status of the DTC fleet, noting that Delhi operates 660 small electric buses, 1,800 large electric buses, and 1,800 CNG buses, with a total of 4,800 electric buses forming the city's robust EV fleet. However, she acknowledged that many of these buses still operate on outdated routes, limiting their effectiveness in serving the city's population.
To address this, the government has collaborated with IIT Delhi to design a comprehensive new route plan. This plan aims to enhance bus connectivity in underserved areas and improve integration with Metro services. A pilot project will be initiated in Yamuna Vihar, following which the model will be implemented citywide, the release said.
Another key area of focus is the modernisation of Bus Queue Shelters (BQS) across the capital. All BQS will be upgraded with real-time arrival displays, LED lighting, digital boards, solar power support, and weather-resistant designs. These upgrades will be executed through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Currently, out of the 4,627 shelters in Delhi, only 2,021 are functional. The new shelter designs are inspired by global standards and tailored to Delhi's local needs, the press release added.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to transform Delhi's Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) into world-class facilities. Terminals like Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan will be revamped to provide airport-like amenities, ensuring passenger comfort, safety, and accessibility. These terminals will be equipped with modern infrastructure and will serve as model hubs for intercity travel in India's capital.
CM Rekha Gupta
reiterated, "With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and collaborative efforts between the Centre and Delhi Government, we are determined to give Delhi citizens a sustainable, green, and smart public transport experience."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Govt preparing to give 10% horizontal reservation to Agniveers in govt jobs: Uttarakhand CM
Govt preparing to give 10% horizontal reservation to Agniveers in govt jobs: Uttarakhand CM

Time of India

time39 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Govt preparing to give 10% horizontal reservation to Agniveers in govt jobs: Uttarakhand CM

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said the state government is preparing to give 10 per cent horizontal reservation to Agniveers in government jobs after they complete four years of military service. He made the announcement at a programme held here to honour former soldiers and family members of martyrs on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Digital Marketing PGDM Finance Technology healthcare Data Science Cybersecurity MCA MBA Management Operations Management Product Management Project Management Design Thinking others CXO Artificial Intelligence Others Degree Leadership Data Analytics Healthcare Data Science Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Dhami said a proposal to give 10 per cent horizontal reservation to Agniveers after they complete four years of service under the Agnipath scheme is being prepared and will soon be brought before the state cabinet for its approval. "We are preparing to give 10 per cent horizontal reservation to Agniveers in the police, transport, forest and other government departments. A proposal in this regard will soon be brought for cabinet approval. Agniveers who complete four years of service under the Agnipath scheme will get its benefits," he said. The horizontal reservation is a type of reservation that is provided across all categories, namely the General Category, as well as vertical reservation categories - Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Live Events The Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services. The scheme provides for recruiting Agniveers youngsters between the age group of 17-and-a-half and 21 for a block period of four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for another 15 years. Several states and central forces have already taken initiative to provide reservation to Agniveers Dhami said the state government is supportive towards soldiers and their families, and spoke of many steps taken in recent years with their welfare in mind. The state government has increased the ex-gratia amount given to the families of the martyrs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The lumpsum and annual amount given to the soldiers decorated with gallantry awards has also been increased, he said. The ex-gratia amount of Param Vir Chakra awardees has now been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, the chief minister said. It has been decided to provide employment training in drone operation to ex-servicemen's wives and daughters as Drone Didis, Dhami said. The government is also providing the facility of free travel to Badrinath Dham to ex-servicemen, wives of soldiers and Veer Naris who have completed the age of 60 years, he said. The construction work of the grand Shaurya Sthal (Military Dham) in Dehradun in memory of the martyrs is in its final stage, he said. This Military Dham contains water from 28 rivers across the state and soil brought from the homes of martyred soldiers, he said. So far, 37 dependents of martyrs have been provided government jobs. Under this scheme, the period for applying for a government job has also been increased from two years to five years. Apart from free travel facility in Uttarakhand Roadways buses to gallantry award winners, serving and former military personnel are also being given a 25 per cent discount in stamp duty on purchase of permanent property worth up to Rs 25 lakh.

Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban
Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban

Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban (Image via Getty) The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will miss the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The team was denied US visas just days before the tournament starts on July 27. These young players had earned their spot by winning the Latin American championship, but now their dreams are crushed. The reason? A travel ban linked to US President Donald Trump's immigration policy. Donald Trump blocked Venezuelan team from US tournament just days before it begins The Cacique Mara Little League baseball team from Maracaibo, Venezuela won't be allowed to participate in the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The contest kicks off Saturday, July 27. Why? The players were turned down visas to visit the United States. Little League International said on Friday that the team's visa application was turned down. Having won the Latin American title in Mexico and qualified to represent the region at the global competition, the young players, ages 13 and 16, They are, however, compelled to hang back now. They had traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, two weeks ago to apply for their US visas. But all their hopes ended when they were told the paperwork wouldn't go through. The team shared a statement, saying: 'It is a mockery to keep us in Bogotá with hope. What do we do with the pain caused to our children?' Donald Trump's travel ban stops young Venezuelan athletes from playing in US The team's visa denial is part of a larger issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your donations can help this little boy see again clearly Donate For Health Donate Now Undo US President Donald Trump has reintroduced a travel ban that blocks people from 13 countries from entering the United States. Venezuela is one of them. Trump claims these bans are necessary for national security. Kendrick Gutiérrez, president of the Venezuelan Little League, said on Friday, 'They told us Venezuela is on a list because Trump says we are a threat. But these are children. They earned their place by winning.' The White House said in June that athletes traveling for major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup would be allowed under special rules. But it seems youth baseball is not included. Also Read: Jannik Sinner Coaching Rumors Spark Drama As Brad Gilbert Slams 'Fake News' Before US Open 2025 Last week, the Cuban women's volleyball team also couldn't travel to Puerto Rico for their tournament due to visa issues. That decision also sparked outrage. In place of the Venezuelan team, the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, will now join the Senior League World Series. They were runners-up at the Latin American championship. Gutiérrez added, 'We don't understand why Venezuela was dropped and Mexico added. This is the first time something like this has happened. It's not fair to the children.' Little League International called the visa denial 'extremely disappointing,' especially for the young players who had worked so hard to reach this stage. FAQs 1. Why was the Venezuelan Little League team denied US visas? The team was denied visas due to Donald Trump's renewed travel ban on Venezuela. 2. Which country replaced Venezuela in the Senior League Baseball World Series 2024? Mexico's Santa Maria de Aguayo team replaced Venezuela in the tournament. 3. Is Venezuela included in Donald Trump's travel ban list? Yes, Venezuela is one of the countries affected by Trump's travel restrictions. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

‘Purchased' honorary titles, international web of shell firms: How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy for 9 yrs
‘Purchased' honorary titles, international web of shell firms: How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy for 9 yrs

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

‘Purchased' honorary titles, international web of shell firms: How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy for 9 yrs

A pristine white bungalow, four flashy sedans with blue and white diplomatic number plates parked in the driveway, national flags from across the world and a man posing as an 'ambassador'. When Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) raided the 'Embassy of Westarctica' in Ghaziabad's upscale Kavi Nagar neighbourhood earlier this week, they came across an elaborate con job. Far from an an ordinary swindler, Harsh Vardhan Jain, the accused, had been running a fake embassy of a country that doesn't exist, without raising any suspicion for the last nine years. Jain had planned every detail meticulously to build this façade, according to the police. He had allegedly printed fake press cards, doctored photos with top dignitaries and even 'purchased' honorary titles from self-proclaimed micronations. The preliminary investigation, police say, has revealed that Jain was running a multi-nation scam. How did Jain manage to execute such a fraud, undetected for years, right beneath the vigilant gaze of the local Ghaziabad Police is yet to be revealed. How Jain's fake embassy operation was finally exposed is also unknown. According to the UPSTF, Jain is a Ghaziabad-born MBA graduate who claims to have studied in London. His father, JD Jain, was a once reputed industrialist, with marble export businesses operating in Rajasthan. In the early 2000s, Jain reportedly came in contact with self-styled godman Chandraswami, who allegedly introduced him to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and Ehsan Ali Syed, another conman posing as a businessman who was convicted in a fraud case in Switzerland. With their help, Jain is said to have established more than a dozen companies in Dubai, London, and Mauritius — many of them shell firms used to collect 'brokerage' for jobs and promises of huge loans before duping them. After a few years in London and Dubai, Jain allegedly returned to India in 2011 and began projecting himself as a diplomat. Police say he leveraged honorary titles from unrecognised micronations — Seborga, Westarctica, and Lodonia — to set up a fake embassy in his Ghaziabad home. He had also been posing as the ambassador of a fictional nation called Poulvia. When STF officers entered the Kavi Nagar bungalow on July 22, they found what appeared to be a diplomatic mission: cars with blue number plates bearing phrases like 'Honorary Consul – Baron Westarctica', flags of different nations on the property, and signages that were creating the illusion of official legitimacy. Inside, they recovered over Rs 44 lakh in Indian currency, foreign currency from the United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, 20 sets of fake diplomatic number plates, 34 stamps and seals of various fake entities,12 passports (some from unrecognized nations), Fake IDs including press cards and two PAN cards, a laptop, phone, and over a dozen luxury watches. Jain had been running the operation, STF officials said, by posing as a diplomatic representative allegedly by using the fake IDs and doctored photos. His setup included 'morphed' images showing him with late President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other leaders, in an attempt to look credible. Through this lavish setup, he had allegedly been luring individuals and companies with promises of jobs and international business deals. To outsiders, the 'embassy' appeared credible, complete with red and green diplomatic license plates and signage that implied ties with multiple global institutions. Officials said he even issued bogus 'diplomatic passports' from micronations and collected money as 'fees' with promises of providing employment in these micronations. Micronations are self-proclaimed countries not recognised by any sovereign state. While any associations with these micronations are often symbolic, Jain had allegedly used his associations with them to create an aura of legitimacy. Seborga, one of the micronations of which he had been posing as an ambassador, is a self-declared principality in Italy. In its statement, it said that it appointed Jain as an honorary councilor in good faith after he had contacted them. The statement also clarified that it was a symbolic post with no legal or diplomatic standing. The principality said that over the years Jain had aso 'recommended individuals to represent Seborga in India' some of whom had been appointed by the micronation. Westarctica, which claims to be a non-profit organisation working towards the cause of preserving the Antarctic ice sheet, confirmed that Jain was given the honorary title of 'Consul to India' after he made a donation in 2016. However, he violated protocol by calling his residence an embassy and printing unauthorised materials like diplomatic number plates and passports, according to a statement. 'He was indefinitely suspended,' the group said in a statement. Ladonia, another micronation, which claims to provide a cultural identity for people who believe in free speech and artistic expression and has clear boundaries but mostly 'non-resident' citizens denied any ties with Jain. forged documents to claim he was its Ambassador to India and harassed officials after they refused to recognize him. In a detailed response to questions asked by The Indian Express, Ladonia's Press Officer, Julia Andersson, said Jain became a 'symbolic citizen' on November 12, 2016, and had 'purchased' an honorary barony title. The micronation alleged that in November 2017, Jain had forged a certificate falsely claiming to be Ladonia's Ambassador to India, backdating it to September 15, 2016, in an attempt to predate the symbolic appointment of another Indian individual and had been 'harrassing' its officials by spamming them with texts and mails requesting for Ladonian paraphernalia, a request that was denied by the micronation. According to STF and police officials, Jain's network spanned multiple countries. He alleegdly maintained 11 bank accounts in the UK, UAE, Mauritius, and India; set up shell firms like Island General Trading Co. LLC (Dubai), East India Company UK Ltd and State Trading Corporation Ltd (UK); claimed to help clients get international contracts or jobs abroad; charged hefty 'brokerage'and used these fake diplomatic affiliations that he had purchased to appear credible enough to seek business clients. Police sources said that he made over 30 trips to the UAE alone and visited over 40 countries in the past decade to build a globe-trotting con operation. Police are currently trying to determine the number of people defrauded. An FIR (No. 671/2025) has been registered at Kavi Nagar police station under sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to forgery, impersonation, and cheating. Jain was remanded to judicial custody on July 23, where the STF seeked custodial remand to trace the full extent of his hawala network. Officials also said that the Income Tax Department would be informed about the seized cash and foreign currency. Further investigation is on into his multiple PAN cards, international accounts, and fake documentation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store