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New Delhi

New bus depot for Games

Special Correspondent

It will provide parking space for 1,000 buses

- Photo: S. Subramanium

On guard: A security personnel keeps a vigil at the newly opened bus depot for Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: The country's largest public transport bus depot that would provide parking space for about 1,000 buses during the Commonwealth Games, was commissioned on Friday by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Having come up opposite Millennium Park on Ring Road on the banks of the Yamuna, the bus depot and logistic centre would also provide parking for various escort vehicles to be used during the Games.

The Millennium Park Bus Depot has come up on a fly ash pond that used to be the dumping site for waste generated by the nearby thermal power stations. But now the area has been developed on the green concept and boasts several environment friendly features.

Ms. Dikshit said the commissioning of the bus depot has ushered in a new era in creation of world-class road transport facility.

The Chief Minister also launched hybrid buses with modern technology from the new bus depot that are expected to reduce air pollution in the city. These hybrid buses would be able to travel at higher speeds and would have higher emission control norms.

Ms. Dikshit lauded the manner in which the Public Works Department was able to commission the bus depot in a short span of time over a fly ash pond and slushy area. The construction was difficult as the load-bearing capacity of the soil was too poor to hold the structure, including the boundary wall, and therefore special construction techniques were adopted to raise the structures.

The depot also comprises a logistic centre that would monitor the movement of buses and plan the trips to ensure greater punctuality and regularity in the plying of buses on city routes.

Calling upon the DTC staff to maintain the new depot properly and keep its sheen and utility intact, the Chief Minister also noted that the attractive structure, that is visible from Ring Road, has enhanced the beauty of the area. Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said DTC would ply 6,000 buses during the Games. This would include 1,500 buses that would exclusively transport players, media persons and officials.

He said new designer uniforms would also be provided to all DTC conductors and drivers for the Games.

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