Latest news with #CNG-run
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
3K cluster buses may pause ops over unpaid Rs 300 cr dues
NEW DELHI: In what could deal a severe blow to Delhi's public transport system, over 3,000 CNG-run cluster buses operated by private companies may go off the roads from next month. The bus operators have warned of halting services, citing unpaid dues of around Rs 300 crore from the Delhi government's Transport Department. The financial deadlock has persisted since the Delhi Assembly elections, with operators claiming they have not received a single payment since the new BJP-led administration took charge. The private operators, responsible for nearly 45 percent of the bus fleet, said the situation has escalated to a crisis point, making it increasingly difficult to manage day-to-day operations. 'The delays in payment have led to layoffs of hundreds of staff members, including drivers and maintenance personnel. A workforce of about 15,000 employees is engaged in running and maintaining the cluster buses,' a bus operator said on the condition of anonymity. According to the operators, the last partial payments were made during the tenure of the previous Aam Aadmi Party government. 'A similar crisis had occurred before the last Assembly elections, when a payment of Rs 60 crore was finally made under public pressure. However the current dues are five times that amount,' another operator recalled.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Delhi-NCR Weather Live Updates: Capital sees a significant temperature dip after heavy shower; rain likely today
IMD Rain Alert in Delhi, Delhi-NCR Weather Today Live Updates: The Capital city witnessed a cool morning Thursday, with the minimum temperature dipping to 20.8 degrees Celsius, 5.9 degrees below the season's normal. The dip in the minimum temperature was recorded after a storm, high-speed winds, rain, and hailstorm swept the city on Wednesday night, leaving four people dead. The weather department said 12 mm rain was recorded in the last 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted partly cloudy sky on Thursday and thunderstorm with rain on Friday and Saturday. DTC comes up with SOPs: The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has identified 30 locations where its CNG-run buses frequently break down, causing traffic disruptions daily, said officials. On average, 100 to 123 DTC buses break down daily, most at critical spots like ISBT Kashmere Gate, Minto Bridge underpass, Sarai Kale Khan, Rajghat, ITO, Vikas Marg, Civil lines, Dhaula Kuan, AIIMS flyover, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Ashram, and Dhaula Kuan near Subroto Park police station, among others, officials added. AAP appoints new office-bearers across states: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Thursday released a fresh list of office-bearers, appointing key leaders to organisational roles across various states as well as for overseas coordination. The appointments were formalised through an official announcement signed by Sandeep Pathak, the party's national general secretary (organisation). Senior AAP leader Dilip Pandey has been appointed as the party's overseas coordinator. Additionally, he has been named 'Sah Prabhari' (co-in-charge) for Uttar Pradesh, along with Vishesh Ravi, Anil Jha and Surendra Kumar.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
In 15 minutes, buses to be removed after breakdown: DTC comes up with SOPs
The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has identified 30 locations where its CNG-run buses frequently break down, causing traffic disruptions daily, said officials. On average, 100 to 123 DTC buses break down daily, most at critical spots like ISBT Kashmere Gate, Minto Bridge underpass, Sarai Kale Khan, Rajghat, ITO, Vikas Marg, Civil lines, Dhaula Kuan, AIIMS flyover, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Ashram, and Dhaula Kuan near Subroto Park police station, among others, officials added. (see box) 'Many buses under DTC and cluster bus services bought during the 2010 Commonwealth Games have completed their service tenure. Several of these buses are being operated after the annual maintenance contract (AMC) has expired, leading to frequent breakdowns…,' said a senior official. More than 2,500 buses – currently plying even after the expiry of AMC – will go off the roads by the end of this year, said officials. 'When buses break down, it not only affects the frequency of the service but also causes traffic congestion. To address this, the DTC has analysed past incidents where buses have had breakdowns, and identified 30 critical locations… These areas are key arterial stretches that see heavy traffic movement…,' said the official. To resolve the problem, the DTC has formed quick response teams (QRT) and deployed 30 cranes at these locations so that affected buses are removed within 15 minutes of breakdown. 'Earlier, whenever a bus used to break down, a team from the concerned depot used to remove it, which took about 3 to 4 hours… Now, a team will remove the bus with the help of a crane within 15 minutes and take it to a nearby depot for repair,' said the official. In a 34-page standard operating procedure (SOP), issued recently, the DTC said, 'The key aim is reducing the response time in removing the blockade caused by breakdown… The scope of this SOP is to serve as a standard protocol for all levels of staff – from control room officers and depot managers to QRTs and crane operators – for the removal of breakdown vehicles from roads, particularly during heatwave conditions and rainy season.' The corporation has also devised roles and responsibilities for each level of its staff. For instance, the regional officials will oversee the implementation of the SOP, coordinate with concerned departments, Delhi Traffic Police and others. The control room, managed by two deputy managers (Traffic), will report to a nodal officer, operate a 24×7 control room, collect information on all breakdowns and waterlogging alerts, and deploy the nearest QRT to a breakdown location within 5 minutes. The depot managers, meanwhile, will conduct daily inspections of vehicle readiness, counsel drivers about waterlogged areas and spots prone to breakdown, among others. The QRTs, which will function under the control room, will reach a spot within five minutes of receiving an alert on a bus breaking down. It will tow the bus while also assisting in minor repairs or making alternate arrangements for the transfer of stranded passengers to other buses. During monsoon, these QRTs will also monitor waterlogging in these locations and inform the control room so that drivers can avoid such routes, said officials. Besides the QRT teams, DTC has set up 100 field operations monitoring teams to ensure smooth operation of buses, prompt response to breakdowns, and regular feedback for corrective action. Also, four regional-level teams and 70 depot-level bike teams will fix repairs like brake failure and others.
