The DTC strike entered its third day on Thursday, leaving commuters across Delhi searching for costlier or less accessible alternatives as more than 80% of Delhi Transport Corporation buses remained off the roads, according to unions. The disruption has pushed more passengers towards the Delhi Metro, which deployed eight additional trains and recorded a sharp rise in ridership after the strike began.
The DTC operates 6,840 public buses that carry around 40 lakh passengers daily. With bus travel made free for women, the network is also one of the city’s most affordable public transport options. The strike has therefore affected not only daily commutes but also journeys to hospitals, workplaces and other essential destinations.
At a bus stop outside Lok Nayak Hospital in Central Delhi, 55-year-old Fareeda Jalal was deciding whether to pay Rs 350 for a shared tempo or use the Metro after undergoing chemotherapy. Jalal, who normally travels from Dwarka to the hospital by bus, said the Metro would require her to climb stairs, stand and walk long distances.
“I already spent Rs 350 to reach the hospital in the morning. It looks like I will have to spend that much again as taking the Metro will mean a lot of walking. I don’t think my knees can do so much,” she said.
Other commuters reported difficulty reaching work and sharply higher fares for alternative transport. At Shadipur Depot in West Delhi, Radha, a 40-year-old worker at a jeans workshop, said two buses had stopped short of her destination. After waiting for an hour, she said she had to pay for an autorickshaw to report to work.
In ITO, Sheetal, a 45-year-old domestic worker, said a shared autorickshaw ride to Laxmi Nagar that usually costs Rs 20-30 was being offered for at least Rs 80. The accounts reflect how the loss of bus services has shifted pressure onto Metro trains, autorickshaws and other modes, with passengers paying more or facing longer and less convenient journeys.
Delhi Metro ridership rose from 72.73 lakh passengers on Monday to 76.86 lakh on Tuesday, the first day of the strike, and 80.71 lakh on Wednesday. To assist commuters, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said it deployed eight extra trains to operate 20 additional trips on Thursday.
The Delhi Traffic Police advised commuters to plan their journeys because the DTC disruption was affecting traffic in certain areas. The continuing strike has left the city’s public transport system managing demand across available modes while commuters remain dependent on further official measures and the resumption of DTC services.
