UTS Voice
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The much-touted plan was hailed as a way to rein in the killer Blueline buses
New Delhi: Days after announcing the kilometre scheme to rein in the killer Blueline buses, the government is now on the backfoot on the much-touted scheme.
A panel headed by Chief Secretary R Narayanaswami, which submitted its report to the Delhi Cabinet, has found the scheme is not feasible at the current stage, as the government is keen on giving contract to run private buses to corporate houses and cooperatives. The government has already invited Expressions of Interest for running some 1,000 buses in the city.
But Transport minister Haroon Yusuf, who has peddled the kilometre scheme as a way to check the accident-prone fleet of private buses, said it has not been “totally abandoned”. He said some changes have been suggested, and they will be looked into by the officials. It will be brought before the Cabinet for discussion again, Yusuf said. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is learnt to be opposing the scheme on the ground that it was discontinued by her government in 2002 after widespread reports of corruption, said after Cabinet meeting that there are still some “doubts” about the scheme. She said the government will take a final decision after getting a feedback from parties that have evinced interest in running bus services, and the matter might be brought before the Cabinet again.
According to officials, the government has till date received 90-odd bids, with more likely to come in before the last date on August 31. Sources said even the DTC is augmenting its services, and 500 new buses will hit the roads next months. A further 2,000 are likely to join the DTC fleet in the next a few months, officials said.
“In light of these initiatives, bringing in the kilometre scheme might give an impression to corporate houses and other interested parties that the government is not keen on phasing out Blueline buses,” an official said. “Moreover, Blueline operators might ask for incentives for opting for the scheme in lieu of permits till five years.”
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