Latest news with #DEVi
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
PM Modi flags off e-buses in Delhi to promote green urban mobility
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off a new fleet of electric buses under an initiative of the Delhi Government to promote clean and green urban mobility . Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi stated, 'Building a clean and green Delhi! Flagged off Electric Buses under an initiative of the Delhi Government aimed at boosting sustainable development and clean urban mobility. Additionally, this will also improve 'Ease of Living' for the people of Delhi.' As of May 2025, Delhi already boasts a substantial fleet of over 2,000 electric buses, comprising vehicles operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and those under the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) cluster scheme. The Delhi government has been aggressively expanding its electric bus network. In May 2025, 400 new electric buses were flagged off under the DEVi initiative , and plans are already in motion to introduce another 401 new electric buses by mid-June 2025. Looking ahead, the government has set a target of having approximately 5,500 electric buses in total by the end of 2025, which includes adding over 2,000 more electric buses within the current year.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Delhi CM pitches for year-round anti-pollution plan
NEW DELHI Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday highlighted the Delhi government's initiatives, such as the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) scheme, hi-tech machines for water sprinkling and road sweeping, and new policies to prevent garbage burning at both localities and landfills as key measures to combat the Capital's air pollution. Speaking at Aironomics-2025, an event where policymakers and experts discussed clean air as a driver of India's economic growth, Ms. Gupta underlined the need for public involvement. She said the government will seek people's participation, from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), ensuring proper disposal of construction waste to providing heaters to guards in winter so they don't burn firewood. Year-round problem 'The previous governments treated pollution as a winter issue. But pollution is not seasonal. In winter, slowed air flow makes pollution more visible, but we must work to control it all year,' the CM said, stressing long-term reforms. 'We've backed our ambition with resources. ₹300 crore has been allocated in this year's budget for pollution control,' Ms. Gupta said. She also noted that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's vacancies had been reduced from 60% to 34%, with a target of 25% by June. The CM also said the government will continue to promote electric vehicles, with subsidy plans in the pipeline. A blueprint is being prepared to establish 48,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Delhi by 2026 under the DEVi initiative. Aironomics 2025, hosted by the Council for International Economic Understanding (CIEU) and organised under the Bharat Climate Forum in collaboration with advisory firm Dalberg, brought together representatives from the WHO, UNEP, the World Bank, IITs, TERI, NGT, CPCB, and others. Key discussions included carbon markets, green bonds, real-time air quality monitoring technology, and grassroots engagement. The CIEU projected investment opportunities worth ₹35,000 crore and job creation potential in the biogas and EV sectors. National priority The key discussions included financing models like carbon markets and green bonds, technology for real-time air quality monitoring and community-driven initiatives. The summit reiterated that poor air quality is a year-round, pan-India crisis, costing the economy an estimated $95 billion annually. Ashwani Mahajan, Co-convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the economic wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), stressed the need for coordinated action across ministries and States to bridge gaps in enforcement, funding, and institutional mandates. The event concluded with a call to transform policy consensus into coordinated implementation across institutions and sectors, reaffirming clean air as a national development priority.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
At NITI Aayog meet, CM seeks support in boosting infra, cleaning Yamuna
Presenting the road map for 'developed Delhi' at NITI Aayog's 10th Governing Council meeting and seeking the Centre's cooperation, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said cleaning the Yamuna river, developing infrastructure, and providing tap water to all households are her government's key priorities. 'Our goal is to make Delhi the world's most sustainable and liveable city by 2047. Delhi should become the city of inclusive and quality education, universal health security, skill training, high-tech research, garbage-free roads, and cultural and heritage sites,' the Chief Minister said in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ms. Gupta said her government's resolve is to make Yamuna the symbol of a cultural renaissance. 'The Delhi government has planned to set up 40 new sewage treatment plants to ensure that no untreated water goes into Yamuna,' she said, seeking the support of the Centre and bordering States – Haryana, Uttar Pradesh – in rejuvenating the river. Ms. Gupta said making Delhi a pollution-free city is her other key priority. 'A target of converting public transport into 100% electric has been set. Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) buses is a step in this direction, and we are aiming to operate 2,000 new electric buses in the current financial year,' she said. Green city In her address, she said that her government is working to make Delhi a 'green economy' through initiatives like installing rooftop solar panels on government buildings. Taking potshots at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Ms. Gupta said after many years, Delhi participated in the NITI Aayog meeting. 'Due to the conduct of the previous irresponsible government, the issue of Delhi was never raised before the Aayog,' she alleged. There was no reaction from AAP till the time of going to press.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AAP alleges ‘major scam' in DEVi buses, seeks CBI probe
A political row erupted in the Capital over the launch of 400 Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) buses, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleging a 'major scam' in the procurement process and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed the buses, flagged off by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday, were the same 'Mohalla Buses' procured by AAP when it was in power in October 2024, but were shelved for violating the 50% 'Make in India' clause. 'If they were non-compliant then, how are they compliant now? Were the parts replaced? Was there a new tender? Or did compliance just magically happen?' Mr. Bharadwaj said. He accused the BJP government of corruption, saying, 'We don'tyet know if the wrongdoing was at the bureaucratic or political level, but this warrantsa CBI investigation. This involves thousands of crores in public money.' 'This is just like the water tanker episode. The BJP is falsely claiming credit for what was already done,' he said. The BJP dismissed the allegations as AAP's 'political desperation'.Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said AAP had itself launched the buses without completing the due certification and documentation. 'When the buses arrived under the DEVi Yojana, technical formalities were pending. AAP rushed the launch ahead of elections but never put them on the road,' he said.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM Gupta inaugurates 400 electric DEVi buses
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inaugurated 400 new electric buses under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) scheme. The scheme, first introduced in the 2023 Delhi budget by the Aam Aadmi Party government as 'Mohalla buses', has now been renamed and launched by the BJP government. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Gupta said the initiative will help address last-mile connectivity issues in the city. 'The buses will provide commuters with eco-friendly, comfortable public transportation between metro stations and bus terminals,' she said. 2,080 more electric buses will be added to the fleet by the end of this year, she added. The 400 buses will first ply across east and west Delhi, covering the areas of Ghazipur, Vinod Nagar East and Nangloi. According to a Delhi Transport Department (DTC) official, 146 routes have been selected for the plying of these buses based on data of people's movements. Rohtash Sharma, a commuter who just learnt about the initiative on Friday, told The Hindu that if the bus service truly runs until midnight as promised, it would be of great help to the people of Delhi. 'Finding last mile connectivity during late nights are fairly difficult by itself, add to that the high costs and it's a nightmare,' she added. Each DEVi bus has a total 23 seats, out of which six seats are reserved for women. Each bus can also accommodate 13 standing passengers. The fare structure will range between ₹10 to ₹25 per person.
