- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Delhi government has launched a creative plan to turn old buses into small retail shops in an effort to address the lack of reasonably priced commercial space in the city's busy areas and to encourage local entrepreneurship.
For small company owners, opening a store has become a difficult undertaking due to the growing costs of rent and the decreasing supply of retail real estate in desirable parts of the city. Currently, the administration is adding its own twist to that spirit of innovation in a city where jugaad frequently bridges the gap between difficulty and solution.
Old and abandoned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses are to be converted into small shops using a public-private partnership (PPP) concept. These buses will be parked at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan, three of the city's main interstate bus terminals that see thousands of commuters every day but lack sufficient dining and shopping options.
The initiative's main goal, according to a TOI report, is to enhance basic passenger services at these transit sites, with a focus on breakfast and snacking alternatives for early travelers. The Delhi Transport Department has invited proposals for the establishment of stores in old DTC buses at ISBT Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan as a first step.
Vendors chosen under this program must adhere to a set of rules, which include securing licenses from the police, the municipal body, and other agencies and making sure that all taxes and fees are paid. Although the vintage buses provide an innovative business structure, officials made it clear that activities must adhere strictly to civic standards.
According to a government source, cited by News18, the chosen contractor will be in charge of making sure that all local regulations on garbage disposal, sanitation, and water supply are followed. They must also take precautions to avoid causing any public annoyance or harming neary infrastructure.
