In a bid to curb pollution and strengthen public transport, Delhi government has allowed app-based premium bus service to ply in the city. In an official statement, the government notified that the service will be effective from June 1. The app-based premium bus shuttle service allows people to book their seats in buses through their smartphones. Unlike other public bus services, which are crammed beyond their limit, are not air-conditioned and don’t run in a timely manner, this premium service is expected to offer a more comfortable and convenient transport service to the Delhiites.
According to the new scheme, participating companies like Ola and Uber will determine the routes, and notify the users about the same on their apps. Users can then book their seats in advance and use the service which would be more expensive than the regular bus service, but would turn out much cheaper than hailing a cab.
Only air-conditioned buses are allowed to ply under the scheme. To get a license from the government the aggregator companies will have to have at least 50 running buses in their fleet. The license will be provided by Delhi Government’s transport department, which would not allow a bus to be using more than three aggregator services at a time.
The payment for this service can be made only in electronic format, doing away with cash transactions. Also, while there is no clear directive on the fares, the government will decide the upper limit of the fares to be charged, and has the authority to swing in action if its finds the pricing ‘predatory’.
The companies participating in the scheme will have to clearly state the route and timings of every service, along with the name and other details of the bus driver. The list of passengers will need to be frozen five minutes before the bus departs from origin station, to prevent drivers from cramming the vehicle with more passengers than designated.
Like most cab hailing apps, the bus aggregator app will also have a feedback section, with instructions to lodge a complaint displayed clearly inside the bus as well. The aggregators will have to provide measures to ensure safety of women, along with an in-app panic button.
In case the bus service is cancelled due to uncontrollable reasons or ‘force majeure’ the companies will either have to arrange for an alternative mode of transport or refund the entire fee to the passengers. If the service is cancelled for any other reason, the companies will have to pay at least 10 times the money of the amount they charged. The companies will also have to pay a fine of INR 5000 in case of any traffic violations.
As additional security features, the buses will have to be equipped with two CCTV cameras, GPS and Wi-Fi. Like all intra-city bus services in Delhi, these buses will also use CNG as the fuel.
A full-featured, air-conditioned bus service with Wi-Fi and assurance of getting a reserved seat? Can this idea change the face of public transport in India? Do share your thoughts through the comments section below – you can comment by logging in through Facebook, Google or even without them.