DTC Fleet shrinks to skeletal level : Delhi Congress

NEW DELHI, October 11, 2022—Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ch. Anil Kumar said that as he is his usual practice, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was taking credit for something which he has not done, the latest example being Kejriwal congratulating himself by flagging off 50 CNG buses in the privately-owned Cluster Fleet. He said that the Delhi Government has not added a single bus to the DTC fleet in the past eight years, and the move to purchase 1000 new buses for DTC was mired in controversy, as Kejriwal tried to take Rs 4288 crore commission from the purchase and maintenance contracts, about which the Lt. Governor has ordered a CBI probe, after the Delhi Congress exposed the corrupt deal.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that DTC is operating with a depleted, over 12-year-old fleet, and these buses have outlived their utility, yet Kejriwal has not taken any effective steps to solve the public transport problem in Delhi. He said that out of the 7000-odd public transport buses on Delhi roads, 4000 buses belong to the Cluster Fleet, which runs its buses in a disorderly manner as they rush past crowded bus stops, without taking passengers.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that the Kejriwal Government has squandered thousands of crores in the last 8 years for Kejriwal’s publicity stunt and political footprint expansion, but the Delhi Government does not have funds to buy buses for the DTC fleet. He said that commuters, who solely depend on DTC buses for  travel, are the worst hit as they have to wait at bus stops for hours together, with the Delhi metro always running to full capacity. He said that in the recent months, many DTC buses have caught fire, and breakdown of DTC buses has become a regular feature. He said that old people and women, who cannot use crowded metro and DTC buses, have to solely depend on autos for their travel, but with the latest hike in CNG prices, auto drivers charge arbitrary fares which most people cannot afford.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that due to Kejriwal’s corruption and incompetence, the DTC fleet has shrunk to a very poor health, but Kejriwal’s priority has not been in improving  the public transport system, but to expand the liquor outlet network, to make Delhi the Capital of intoxication.