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Do you want electric buses to operate in your neighborhood too? Send your suggestions here.

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Image Source: PTI

A survey is being conducted in Delhi to initiate small-sized electric neighborhood buses on congested roads. The Delhi Transport Department has commenced an extensive ground survey to determine suitable routes for neighborhood bus services in different areas of Delhi. This survey will run from June 1st to June 15th, with 23 technical teams deployed in various locations across Delhi for study purposes.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the Delhi government has never purchased more than 2000 feeder buses before this initiative. The 9-meter buses will operate on routes where 12-meter buses are unable to reach. Delhi residents can also share their feedback and suggestions regarding the neighborhood buses at mohallabusfeedback [at] gmail.com.

To ensure the inclusion of public suggestions, teams have been formed by the Transport Department to gather insights from the people of Delhi. This will guarantee that all significant routes are covered by these neighborhood buses.

The technical teams involved in the survey will visit metro stations, bus terminals, bus stops, and different areas of Delhi. The survey will focus on the following four aspects:

  1. Assessment of travel demand: The survey teams will examine last-mile connectivity in each area and study the transportation needs of the general public for such connectivity.
  2. Road network: The survey teams will assess road width, encroachments, and obstacles encountered during bus operations.
  3. Public transport connectivity: All teams will determine the distance travelers need to cover to reach public transport. A Pakistani team will also investigate the availability of other public transport options in the area.
  4. Para-transit connectivity: The availability of options such as e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and other para-transit services in specific areas will also be surveyed.

According to the information received from the Transport Department, the data collected during this survey will be digitized. It will be used to determine the origin and destination of proposed neighborhood bus services in each area. Additionally, the survey aims to identify potential routes that will benefit the maximum number of passengers through neighborhood buses.

It should be noted that Kailash Gahlot, Delhi’s Finance Minister, who also serves as the Transport Minister, announced the Neighborhood Bus Plan in the budget speech. The objective of this plan is to deploy 9-meter-long electric buses to provide local or feeder bus services. The Kejriwal government has planned to operate a total of 2,180 such buses by 2025. The neighborhood buses will be specifically operated in those areas of Delhi where road width is limited or regular operation of 12-meter buses is difficult due to congestion.

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Rain, Thunder and Dust Storms May Hit Delhi-NCR in Next 48 Hours

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The weather in Delhi-NCR has been a bit calm since the start of May. The sky will be cloudy on May 2. There could be strong winds, rain and thunder on May 3 and 4, the India Meteorological Department said. This change can bring down the heat and give some respite.

Delhi may see a mix of sun and clouds on May 2. The maximum temperature can be between 38°C and 40°C, while the minimum may stay around 24°C to 26°C. The heat level will be near normal, but a little stickiness may be felt in the air. Morning winds may blow at about 15 km/h. By afternoon, wind speed may reach around 18 km/h. In the evening and night, winds may slow down and come from the south-west, bringing a small change in the feel of the weather.

From May 3, a bigger change is likely. The day may begin with some clouds, but by afternoon, the sky may turn fully covered. Light to medium rain, thunder, and strong winds are expected. Wind speed may stay between 30 to 40 km/h and may go up to 50 km/h at times. Due to this, dust storms, low visibility, and small tree branches falling can happen. The maximum temperature may drop to 36°C to 38°C, while the minimum may be around 25°C to 27°C.

On May 4, clouds may stay for most of the day. There can be light rain once or twice, along with thunder. Strong winds may continue, with speed between 30 to 40 km/h and gusts up to 50 km/h. This will keep the weather pleasant and reduce the heat.

The temperature may fall more on this day. The maximum may stay between 35°C and 37°C, while the minimum may be around 24°C to 26°C.

In short, Delhi is going to witness a change in weather in the next two days. People may feel less heat, but strong winds, rain and lightning can also cause risk. It is better to stay inside during bad weather, avoid trees or weak places and follow updates from the weather office.

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Pink Smart Cards Ignored by Most Women in Delhi — Govt May Make Them Compulsory

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Even after more than 5.5 lakh Pink Saheli Smart Cards have been given to women in Delhi, only a small number are using them for free bus travel. As per official data, only about 5–6% of women passengers — around 6,000 to 8,000 — are using these cards right now.

The Pink Saheli Smart Card was launched on March 2 by Droupadi Murmu. The aim was to replace the old pink ticket system with a smart card system under the ‘One Nation, One Card’ plan. This also helps make sure that only women aged 12 and above who live in Delhi can get free travel.

After the launch, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had said that pink tickets would still be allowed for three months. But officials say most women are still using pink tickets instead of the new card.

Every day, around 23 lakh people travel by bus in Delhi. Out of this, about 6 to 7 lakh are women. Still, many of them have not started using the smart card.

Officials are now planning a survey to find out why the card is not being used much. They want to check if women do not have the card, if some are from outside Delhi, or if bus staff are not asking passengers to use it.

The Delhi Transport Corporation is also planning surprise checks in buses. These checks will see if women are not tapping the card or if conductors are still giving pink tickets.

A senior official said that the government plans to make the smart card the only way to travel free in buses. This rule may start from July. Before that, awareness drives will be done in buses to tell people about the card.

The free bus travel scheme for women started in 2019 under the earlier AAP government. Since then, more than 150 crore pink tickets have been used.

For the year 2026–27, the government has kept ?450 crore for this scheme. Right now, the cards are being made at 58 centres across the city.

Women aged 12 and above can apply for the card using their Delhi Aadhaar and a mobile number linked to it.

Earlier, the Chief Minister also said that DTC has faced a loss of around ?14,000 crore and that the government plans to make the ticket system fully digital.

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Minimum E-Rickshaw Fare in Delhi Could Go Up to Rs 20

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People who travel by e-rickshaw in Delhi may soon have to pay more. A group of electric vehicle operators has decided to raise the starting fare to Rs 20. This step has been taken because prices of fuel, parts, and daily needs have gone up, while e-rickshaw fares have stayed the same for many years.

Anuj Sharma, head of the e-rickshaw group, said these vehicles have been running in Delhi since 2010. In all these years, their fares did not change. At the same time, auto and taxi fares were raised more than once. He said the new fare may start from next month.

The decision came after a meeting between drivers, sellers, makers, and Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh.

At present, Delhi has more than 2 lakh registered e-rickshaws. Around 1.5 lakh more are running without full registration. These vehicles help people travel short distances, mainly in areas where buses or metros are not easy to reach.

Right now, many drivers charge about Rs 10 for the first 2 km, and Rs 5 for each extra km. With the new plan, the base fare will go up.

In another step, the transport department has taken back a 2022 rule. That rule allowed companies to register many e-rickshaws in their name. Now, the aim is to keep the vehicles in the hands of drivers instead of big firms.

Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said this move will help drivers earn better and stop control by a few big players. He added that this step will support small drivers and help them run their own work.

He also said this change will help more people in Delhi get a fair chance to own and run e-rickshaws, which are an important part of daily travel in the city.

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