Gone in 15 mins – here’s DTC’s new plan to remove buses that break down on Delhi roads

“Many buses under DTC and cluster bus services bought during the 2010 Commonwealth Games have completed their service tenure. Several of these buses are being operated after the annual maintenance contract (AMC) has expired, leading to frequent breakdowns…,” said a senior official.

More than 2,500 buses – currently plying even after the expiry of AMC – will go off the roads by the end of this year, said officials.

“When buses break down, it not only affects the frequency of the service but also causes traffic congestion. To address this, the DTC has analysed past incidents where buses have had breakdowns, and identified 30 critical locations… These areas are key arterial stretches that see heavy traffic movement…,” said the official.

To resolve the problem, the DTC has formed quick response teams (QRT) and deployed 30 cranes at these locations so that affected buses are removed within 15 minutes of breakdown.

“Earlier, whenever a bus used to break down, a team from the concerned depot used to remove it, which took about 3 to 4 hours… Now, a team will remove the bus with the help of a crane within 15 minutes and take it to a nearby depot for repair,” said the official.

In a 34-page standard operating procedure (SOP), issued recently, the DTC said, “The key aim is reducing the response time in removing the blockade caused by breakdown… The scope of this SOP is to serve as a standard protocol for all levels of staff – from control room officers and depot managers to QRTs and crane operators – for the removal of breakdown vehicles from roads, particularly during heatwave conditions and rainy season.”

The corporation has also devised roles and responsibilities for each level of its staff. For instance, the regional officials will oversee the implementation of the SOP, coordinate with concerned departments, Delhi Traffic Police and others. The control room, managed by two deputy managers (Traffic), will report to a nodal officer, operate a 24×7 control room, collect information on all breakdowns and waterlogging alerts, and deploy the nearest QRT to a breakdown location within 5 minutes.

The depot managers, meanwhile, will conduct daily inspections of vehicle readiness, counsel drivers about waterlogged areas and spots prone to breakdown, among others.

The QRTs, which will function under the control room, will reach a spot within five minutes of receiving an alert on a bus breaking down. It will tow the bus while also assisting in minor repairs or making alternate arrangements for the transfer of stranded passengers to other buses. During monsoon, these QRTs will also monitor waterlogging in these locations and inform the control room so that drivers can avoid such routes, said officials.

Besides the QRT teams, DTC has set up 100 field operations monitoring teams to ensure smooth operation of buses, prompt response to breakdowns, and regular feedback for corrective action. Also, four regional-level teams and 70 depot-level bike teams will fix repairs like brake failure and others.