According to the plan, 480 feeder buses are required to support Metro ridership, but only 100 are currently available, leaving a shortfall of 380 buses.
Last-mile connectivity continues to be a challenge amid the Delhi government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the public transport in the Capital and fight against air pollution. The government’s Annual Action Plan 2026 to combat air pollution — submitted to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently — highlighted that existing feeder services at Metro stations fall short of the assessed demand.
The annual plan also includes station-wise data carried out by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). It assesses last-mile requirements across 193 operational Metro stations, as of December 31, 2025, which is crucial in tackling vehicular pollution in the Capital. Data from various sources has repeatedly shown that vehicular pollution continues to be a key contributor to the city’s air pollution crisis.
DMRC, as per the annual plan, has stated that 158 of the 193 stations already have access to at least one last-mile connectivity option, including e-bikes, bike taxis, e-rickshaws and e-autos. However, according to the plan, while basic coverage exists at a majority of stations, there is an overall gap of nearly 60% when the scale of services is assessed against commuter demand, according to data.
DMRC has also said that it has signed memoranda of understanding with ride-hailing platforms Uber and Rapido to provide on-demand last-mile services at several stations.
According to the plan, 480 feeder buses are required to support Metro ridership, but only 100 are currently available, leaving a shortfall of 380 buses.
To bridge these gaps, the annual plan has laid out monthly expansion targets for 2026. DMRC has projected the induction of 850 e-rickshaws, 120 e-bikes and 360 e-autos by December 31, 2026. According to the plan, the need for reliable last-mile services will intensify as the Metro network expands. Once Phase IV of the metro expansion — which shall add 112 km to the network — is completed, daily ridership is projected to rise to 1.4 crore passengers.
The annual plan also underlines a significant shortage in Delhi’s city bus fleet, which forms a key part of the public transport system.
Story continues below this ad
Against a total assessed requirement of 11,000 buses, the existing fleet comprises 3,377 electric buses and 1,868 CNG buses, leaving a gap of 5,755 buses.
While the government plans to add 2,468 buses by the end of 2026, in line with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs guidelines, and gradually phase out CNG buses, the plan acknowledges that the overall shortfall will persist. It also records that a monthly induction target of 983 buses for January 2026 was set but not met.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
