- By Shibra Siddiqui
- Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:19 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
At least 280 mohalla buses, parked at bus depots, are likely to hit the Delhi roads after a long wait of nearly eight months due to the lack of required indigenous compliance certificates. 9-metre-long electric buses are all ready to serve Delhi mohallas after the BJP government approved their deployment, the Indian Express reported, citing a transport department official.
Delhi Mohalla Bus: Former AAP Govt Proposed The Concept
Resonating with Mohalla clinics, the concept of Mohalla buses in Delhi was proposed by the former AAP government. The initiative aims to provide connectivity in areas with narrow roads and high population density, where DTC and cluster buses could not enter. Providing last-mile connectivity, eclectic mohalla buses will improve the frequency of public transport options in areas deprived of other reliable transport services.
Indigenous Certificates Caused The Delay In Delhi Mohalla Bus Service
According to the report, the delay was caused by the lack of indigenous certificates to be provided by manufacturers. Indigenous compliance certificates were required to ensure that domestic or Make in India products were used while manufacturing these buses. “As per guidelines, manufacturers have to submit an indigenous compliance certificate, ensuring that domestic or Make in India products are used while manufacturing these buses. The companies that provided these buses did not submit this, due to which the government did not give permission for operating these buses,” the report quoted a transport department official.
The certificate has not been received by all buses, but manufacturers have submitted affidavits promising to provide the remaining certificates, making it possible to deploy mini electric buses on Delhi roads. “Now, some of the companies have submitted certificates for some buses. They have also submitted an affidavit promising to submit the certificates for the remaining buses within six months,” the official added in the report.
The trial first began in East Delhi, on routes from Pradhan Enclave to Majlis Park Metro station and from Akshardham Metro station to Mayur Vihar Phase III paper market. The then AAP government had rolled out two mohalla buses on trial in South Delhi — from Kailash Colony Metro station to PNB Geetanjali and from Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station to Vasant Vihar.
To provide last-mile connectivity to residents of Delhi, the Transport department had floated tenders to procure 1,900 12-m-long e-buses and 1,040 9-m-long mini e-buses. Among mini e-buses, 280 are ready to hit the roads, while of 1,900 regular e-buses, several have arrived, and 400 are yet to join the fleet
