New Delhi Builds Three-Level E-Bus Depot Doubling Fleet To 6000

New Delhi is moving a step closer towards its promise of sustainable and equitable mobility. On Monday, the city government laid the foundation stone for a three-level, multi-purpose electric bus depot at Hari Nagar, setting in motion an ambitious plan to double the city’s e-bus fleet from 3,000 to 6,000 by next year while pledging to revive the financially stressed Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

The upcoming depot is being pitched as a benchmark in green infrastructure. Designed to accommodate over 400 electric buses with 84 charging stations, the facility will not only boost capacity doubling from its earlier 250-bus limit but also demonstrate how transport hubs can integrate sustainability into operations. Officials confirmed that each bus will take about 40 minutes to fully charge, ensuring efficient fleet rotation across the city’s expanding electric routes.The project comes at a critical moment for the capital’s transport ecosystem. With DTC carrying a legacy debt burden reportedly touching ₹65,000 crore, the government has emphasised that the new depot is conceived as a self-sustaining model. Its design incorporates solar power generation, modern cleaning and maintenance units, and even commercial spaces such as a mall and offices to offset operational costs.

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Senior officials highlighted that such integrated revenue models would help reduce dependence on public funds while aligning with Delhi’s long-term carbon neutrality goals.Urban mobility experts see this as more than just infrastructure development it is a statement of intent. Delhi has already emerged as one of the country’s leading adopters of electric mobility, but scaling from 3,000 to 6,000 e-buses within a year will test the robustness of charging networks, power supply, and depot readiness. The Hari Nagar project is expected to serve as a pilot for similar upgrades across other depots in the capital.

Government representatives argued that decades of neglect and corruption had left the DTC crippled, resulting in losses nearly equivalent to Delhi’s annual budget. Reviving the corporation, they said, is central to creating a public transport backbone that is not only financially viable but also climate-resilient. The plan includes redeveloping depots, modernising Inter-State Bus Terminals, and embedding renewable energy systems into future infrastructure.For the workforce, often overlooked in transport planning, welfare measures have been promised. Air-conditioned offices, dormitories, and residential colonies are being planned for employees, with Shadipur Depot set to include dedicated housing. Officials underscored that such measures are designed to improve morale, retention, and efficiency within the organisation, ensuring that DTC employees remain integral stakeholders in Delhi’s transition to a green mobility future.

Transport analysts point out that Delhi’s air pollution crisis makes this expansion especially urgent. Doubling the electric fleet is not just about fleet modernisation but also about reclaiming cleaner air for residents. With India targeting net-zero emissions by 2070, Delhi’s aggressive e-mobility roadmap could set a precedent for other Indian cities.The government has set a tight deadline, aiming to complete the Hari Nagar depot before the next Navratri, roughly 12 months away. If met, the project would become one of the fastest executed transport infrastructure upgrades in the city’s history, symbolising a new era of smart, green, and financially sustainable public transport for the capital.

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New Delhi builds three-level e-bus depot doubling fleet to 6000