The Delhi government is set to expand its electric bus network beyond the capital, connecting Delhi to various cities in neighboring states. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will soon launch electric bus services to cities like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Agra, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Shimla. This initiative aims to provide a sustainable and affordable travel option for passengers, reducing reliance on diesel buses for inter-state journeys.
The electric buses will connect Delhi to 17 routes in total, including key Hindu pilgrimage sites such as Ayodhya, Haridwar, and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, as well as Sikh religious destination Amritsar. Besides religious sites, DTC will also operate electric bus services to important regional cities, including Dehradun and Haldwani in Uttarakhand; Lucknow, Agra, Bareilly, and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh; Jaipur, Bikaner, and Alwar in Rajasthan; and Patiala and Chandigarh in Punjab. These cities were selected based on high passenger footfall from Delhi, mainly due to tourism, business, and family visits.
The government is ensuring that adequate charging infrastructure is available to support the operation of these electric buses. Dedicated electric bus charging stations have been installed at the Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) in Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmere Gate, and Anand Vihar.
The fares for these electric buses are designed to be affordable. For example, the fare from Delhi to Agra is ₹269, and the fare to Jaipur is ₹355. Passengers can book their tickets both online and at ISBT counters. The service operates under the 'gross cost model,' where private operators are responsible for providing buses, drivers, and maintenance, while the DTC handles operational scheduling and fare collection.
This initiative is part of the Delhi government's "Viksit Delhi Sankalp Patra-2025" initiative, which aims to modernize inter-state bus services while making them environmentally friendly. The government aims to strengthen Delhi's connectivity with neighboring states and reduce pollution levels in Delhi. The electric buses will be operated by existing DTC drivers, ensuring efficient utilization of workforce resources.
In addition to the inter-state bus services, the Delhi government is also planning to introduce a full-day, air-conditioned electric bus tour covering key tourist attractions in the city. This tour, operated by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) in collaboration with the DTC, will begin as a pilot with three to four nine-meter “DEVI” buses, each seating approximately 30 passengers. The tour will commence from the Delhi Tourism office on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and include stops at the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Kartavya Path, the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Prime Minister's Museum), National War Memorial, and Lotus Temple. Tickets are expected to be priced at INR 500 per adult and INR 300 for children aged six to twelve, with free travel for children under six. Each bus will pause at every major location for at least one hour, and a trained tourist guide will accompany passengers, providing commentary in multiple languages.
