After more than 30 years, Delhi is set to see double-decker buses again. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is testing electric double-decker buses through a pilot project to check their safety and efficiency on city roads.

Vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has built an electric double-decker bus under its CSR program. The bus is currently stationed at the Okhla depot and will soon run on selected routes for trials. If it performs well, two more buses are expected to be introduced.

Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said on Friday, “Officials are selecting routes where there are no obstacles like height of trees, electric wires, and flyovers. According to the traffic, it is also being seen how practical the operation of these buses will be.”

The new double-decker buses are around 9.8 meters long and 4.75 meters high. Each bus can carry more than 63 passengers, including the driver, which is three times the capacity of a regular bus. Due to their height and weight, they will initially run on short routes to test battery life and operational performance.

Double-decker buses, known as “Suvidha Bus,” ran in Delhi until 1989 before being replaced by CNG buses. Attempts to bring them back during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 G20 Summit did not succeed. Now, the idea is being revived using electric technology.

Currently, Delhi has over 3,500 electric buses, and this number is expected to exceed 6,000 by the end of the year. In addition, two new tourist buses called ‘Delhi Darshan’ will soon be launched for sightseeing.

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