The Delhi government’s transport department has started preliminary work on redeveloping bus depots for electric buses. Around nine bus depots of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) are soon going to get a state-of-the-art upgradation for the upcoming e-buses, said officials. With the government planning to go completely electric by 2025, it is also upgrading the charging infrastructure of both public and private transport. Currently, three bus depots — Rajghat, Mundela Kalan and Rohini Sector 37 — have been electrified. "Infrastructure is very important for running e-buses in Delhi. Now, as the government has plans to completely shift towards e-buses for public transportation, new e-bus depots are being constructed. Under this, there are plans to redevelop the existing bus depots. We have issued tenders and once tenders are finalised, work will begin on the ground, " said a transport official. According to the official, tenders have been floated for the upgradation of nine depots, of which DTC depots at Kalkaji, Rohini-I, Rohini-II, BBM, Sukhdev Vihar, Subah Place are being redeveloped for electric buses. Depots at Hasanpur , Raj Ghat-I and Rohini-I will be improved with better workshops, permanent administrative buildings and facilities for the maintenance of buses. Tenders for the project have been floated and its estimated cost is Rs 13.47 crore. The redevelopment of depots was one of the key projects announced during this year’s budget by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, who also holds the portfolio of the transport department. In the budget, the Delhi government had said that it would spend nearly Rs 1,500 crore on redeveloping bus depots to be in accordance with e-buses. Around 57 existing bus depots are expected to be supporting electric buses. Of the total, 17 depots will be redeveloped by June and the remaining by December end of this year. The transport department is also constructing nine new e-bus depots at East Vinod Nagar 2, Narela, Daurala, Burari, Savda Ghevra, Kapashera, Gadaipur, and Chattarpur.
