Revolutionizing Delhi Public Transport and Fighting Pollution with Electric Vehicles

With the vision of investment in people (similar to health and education), Delhi government has intensified strategies on investment in environment. Almost 30% of pollution in Delhi is due to petrol/diesel vehicular transportation. To deal with this pollution, Delhi Govt has increased the budget of Transportation Department to 23%. Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2018 (EV Policy) is the latest change made by Delhi Govt. The subsidy via EV Policy is not about funding electric vehicle, rather, it is an investment in people’s health. Average life of a person in Delhi is reduced by 3 years. It took decades to reach at this stage. To reverse this effect, we need to improve air quality. EV Policy is a baby step taken in this direction. 

EV Policy is mainly focused on making private mode of transportation more sustainable. AAP Govt has also given a special attention to public transport managed by the Govt which is responsible for around 5% pollution in Delhi. Electric buses are the solution to deal with this pollution. Delhi Govt has already started the process to procure 1000 electric buses. Three electric trial buses have already hit the roads. Delhi government is collecting environment cess from its residents to procure electric buses. 

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot flagging off trail run of electric buses. 1st Bus (left) was flagged off on Nov 2 to run between Ambedkar Nagar and Inderpuri, 2nd Bus (middle) was flagged off on Nov 26 to run on Teevra Mudrika route and 3rd Bus (right) was flagged off on Dec 27 to run on route 534 between Anand Vihar ISBT and Mehrauli 

Revolutionizing Public Transport: Right from the beginning, AAP Govt in Delhi has been focused on building world class public transport system. Delhi metro is one of the best in the world and is responsible for ⅓rd of Delhi’s transportation needs. Rest of the population uses buses (and private vehicles). Transport reforms are taking place in phases. 

1) Increased Passenger Capacity: Passenger capacity can be increased by adding more buses but more buses require more depots. 40% of present depots in Delhi have been constructed by Delhi government in the past 3 years. After some administrative procurement issues, 3000 new buses are being procured which might hit the roads by Mar 2019. 

2) Route Rationalization: While studying routes in Delhi streets it was found out that routes are not only old, but they also did not adapt to geographic and population changes. It was also revealed that multiple buses arrive at one time and leave empty. In order to solve these issues, data and scientific processing techniques are used to find optimal bus routes. It is for the first time when a comprehensive route rationalization is being performed in Delhi. 3000 new buses will hit the optimized routes. 

3) Approachable Bus Stop: New routes will have a bus stop within 500 meters of each house and there won’t be more than 15 mins of waiting time. 

4) Convenience: Public transport must be convenient and accessible. To make it convenient, 2000 out of 3000 buses will be air-conditioned (1000 buses were ordered prior to the new study). All electric buses will also be air-conditioned. 

5) Mobility Card, Tracking and Display: ONE Card has already been launched which can be used in DTC buses and Delhi Metro. A mobile app has also been developed where buses can be tracked in real-time and their arrival and departure time will also be displayed. In coming years, major bus stops will be equipped with digital displays showing waiting, arrival and departure time of buses. 

A Delhi resident showing common mobility card (ONE card)

6) Safety:  A marshall will be available in each bus and the bus will be equipped with CCTV cameras and panic buttons. Installation of CCTV cameras and panic button is in tendering process and we can see these changes in the next 6-8 months. 

7) Affordability: Key for a successful public transport is affordability. If it is too expensive then people will switch to other modes of transportation. To make delhi transport more affordable, rates are being reduced, students are given free ridership, senior citizens are given discounts and 10% discount is offered when using ONE Card. 

Of all new buses that will be procured by Delhi Transport department, at-least 50% will be electric. As the infrastructure gets more electric transport friendly, number of electric buses will increase leading to a 100% usage in Delhi. Due to all these measures combined, Delhi government is very hopeful that public transport will improve to become the number one choice among Delhi residents. 

In the past three years, Delhi government has also worked on other measures for environmental protection. To fight pollution in Delhi, some of the key initiatives and actions taken by Delhi government are: 

1. Increase Green Coverage: Tree plantation drives are being organized across Delhi. The CEO of Delhi Parks and Garden Society is closely monitoring the 2017-18 tree plantation targets and compiling data on tree census. 
2. Ban on Electricity Generators: Delhi govt is banning usage of electricity generators running on petrol/kerosene/diesel as and when pollution level goes high in specific areas. Government has ensured regular power supply in the past 3 years and unscheduled power cuts have reduced drastically. As a result, use of diesel power generators has also reduced. 
3. Air Pollution Monitoring Stations: As of now, Delhi has 48 monitoring stations which is on par with developed countries. 
4. Water Guns, Water Sprinkling and Artificial Rain: During seasons that showed dangerous air quality levels, Delhi government used water guns and helicopters to sprinkle water in large areas, and water tankers to sprinkle water on roads to reduce dust pollution. The Govt also notified contractors to sprinkle water in construction sites and cover under-construction buildings. Delhi govt also wrote to Centre to consider cloud seeding, a process that induces artificial rain and help settle pollutants and clear smog. 

   

   Anti-smog gun in action (left) and Delhi municipal corporation workers sprinkling water on trees (right)

5. Odd-Even: Delhi government introduced Odd-Even rule to deal with vehicular pollution. 
6. Ban on Diesel Vehicles: Delhi Govt banned the sale of diesel vehicles and sent a list of 1.91 lakh diesel vehicles older than 15 years to Delhi Police and asked the force to impound them in accordance with the order of National Green Tribunal. The govt also banned entry of heavy and medium size vehicles from time to time. 
7. E-Rickshaw: In July 2017, Delhi Govt released a subsidy of Rs 30,000 each to 6,000 e-rickshaw owners registered with the government. E-rickshaws are pollution free as they run on batteries. 
8. Action Against Polluters: Govt sealed 22 bars and eateries in Hauz Khas, seized 20,008 kg of plastic bags, and fined Rs. 50,000 to each of the 14 construction sites of Delhi Metro. 
9. Cut-Off Date for Euro-IV Emission: Delhi Govt revised cut-off date for implementation of Euro-VI emission norms to Jan 1, 2017 instead of Jan 1, 2019. 
10. Transportation Budget: AAP Govt increased transportation budget to 23%. 3000 buses cleared for procurement. The Govt is also buying electric buses. 
11. Graded Response Action Plan: Delhi govt is working on strategies to address different levels of air pollution as per National Air Quality Index (AQI) adopted by GOI, submitted by Central Pollution Control Board on 25th November, 2016 before Supreme Court. 
12. Banned Nylon Threads: Non-biodegradable nylon is one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution in Delhi. Government decision to ban nylon threads came few days before 2018 Independence Day. 

Above mentioned efforts by the Delhi Government are related to dealing with day to day air pollution in delhi. However, there are certain days in the months of oct/nov when pollution level reaches dangerous levels. This effect is seen across a belt of neighbouring countries including Afghanistan and Pakistan (see satellite images from 2017 and 2018). Delhi government efforts may not be able to control seasonal pollution, but overall they are efficient in dealing with pollution in the city.

Read More 🔻
Delhi goes electric: Cheaper electric vehicles and swappable battery kiosks every 3 km 
Delhi Govt's Revolutionary Doorstep Delivery of Services by Gopal Mohan

Email Subscription Delivered by FeedBurner

WhatsApp Subscription Click subscribe and save the number to your phone