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CNG buses have trial run in Chandni Chowk

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Setting the stage for plying of eco-friendly Compressed Natural Gas-run mini buses on two routes in the Walled City of Delhi from this Monday, the State Transport Department started a trial run of the vehicles in Chandni Chowk here on Saturday.

Ten CNG Swaraj Mazda mini buses plied between Red Fort and Fathepuri Masjid for around five hours in the morning as part of the test run.

"The buses on Saturday plied from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. People were given a free ride. However, rickshaws continued to ply as the complete infrastructure needs to be put in place before banning rickshaws, hand-carts and animal-driven carts in the area," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic -- Northern Region) H. P. S. Virk.

Sharp criticism

The test run evoked sharp criticism from the rickshaw-pullers who have all along opposed introduction of CNG buses -- an attempt to reduce congestion and tackle traffic jams in the area -- as a conspiracy to deprive them of their livelihood.

Municipal Deputy Commissioner (City Zone) Vijay Singh said: "A drive has been launched against unlicensed rickshaws plying in the area and it will continue in the days to come. It is an ongoing process. Even today [Saturday] some rickshaws were impounded.

There are around 8,000 licensed rickshaws in the City Zone. However, just 150 of them have got their licences renewed this year.

The total number of unlicensed rickshaws could be as high as 15,000."

Once the service is formally inaugurated, the buses will ply on two circular routes at two-minute frequency.

Ten of them will ply between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid, and five between the Metro station on H.C. Sen Marg and Old Delhi railway station on S.P. Mukherjee Marg.

The fare for these buses has been fixed at Rs. 5.

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