The Delhi government is preparing to take its electric bus fleet beyond the capital city, with plans to start services to popular destinations in neighbouring states. Routes under consideration will connect Delhi to cities such as Rishikesh, Dehradun, Agra, Jaipur, Lucknow, Shimla and several others. The move aims to make inter-state travel more eco-friendly, affordable, and sustainable.
Expanding Green Travel Beyond Delhi
According to officials from the transport department, routes in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan are being mapped out, with a focus on ensuring proper charging facilities along the corridors. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has shortlisted 17 inter-state routes for these electric buses. Some planned routes include Delhi–Rishikesh (236 km), Delhi–Dehradun (250 km), Delhi–Haridwar (208 km), Delhi–Agra (195 km), Delhi–Moradabad (180 km), and Delhi–Yamunanagar via Karnal (215 km).
In addition to these, the new service will connect the capital to other key destinations like Alwar, Jaipur, Patiala, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Katra, Shimla, Haldwani, Bareilly, and Lucknow.
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh stated that the selection of cities will depend largely on charging infrastructure availability. Once routes are finalised, implementation will begin in stages, with initial services likely to launch as early as next year.
Modern, Safe and Sustainable Buses
Each bus will be 12 metres long and equipped with modern amenities such as CCTV cameras, GPS trackers, and panic buttons to ensure passenger safety. Officials emphasised that this initiative is part of a larger effort to expand Delhi’s electric mobility network while reducing reliance on diesel-powered vehicles for long-distance travel.
The project will be rolled out gradually after collaboration with state transport departments and the completion of necessary infrastructure. This marks a new chapter for DTC’s inter-state operations, which were halted in 2010 due to the transition to CNG and the unavailability of refuelling stations outside Delhi. Before that, DTC buses were a popular choice for their reliability and cost-effective fares.
