Bus queue shelter project in Delhi stalled for 2 years: no bidders found |

New Delhi: The Delhi government’s ambitious plan to build 1,400 bus queue shelters, launched two years ago, has found few supporters. With multiple tender negotiations between the Department of Transport and potential bidders having yielded no results, the project is now unlikely to take off before the general election.
In 2022, the Delhi government planned to build 1,397 modern bus shelters across the city. These shelters have also been designed to feature digital screens displaying real-time bus information and enhanced security measures, including CCTV monitoring and panic buttons.
A senior transport department official said most of the bidders withdrew because many of these bus shelters were in the outskirts of Delhi, which they did not find economically viable to make money through advertising. “We floated several tenders but failed to attract bidders. We will now change the conditions and re-run the tenders,” the official added.
Another department official said there was virtually no chance the project would be executed before the elections. He added that potential bidders also had concerns about costs and financial feasibility. “If you see the bus shelters in Delhi, we use heavy metals.”
He added: “Now we can consider launching the tenders in groups by grouping shelters from several routes, but this decision can only be taken after further political meetings.”
The government had earmarked Rs 75 crore in 2022 for creation of bus shelters. “If all goes well, these shelters will be equipped with security features such as CCTV cameras and emergency buttons, among other amenities. The structures will also provide a completely barrier-free environment for people with disabilities and elderly commuters. Shelters will have ramps and tactile trails. , and ramps so that they are easily accessible to people with reduced mobility. The shelters will also have designated areas for elderly people, women and people with disabilities,” another official said.
The total number of buses in the DTC and cluster fleets is 7,485. The DTC fleet has 1,231 AC CNG buses, 1,878 non-AC CNG buses and 1,250 low-floor electric buses, while the cluster has 750 AC CNG buses, 1,997 non-AC CNG buses and 379 electric buses. In 2023-24, DTC recorded an average daily ridership of nearly 26 lakh, while the figure for cluster buses stood at 16.4 lakh.