DTC bus ridership falling despite fleet expansion

NEW DELHI: Despite efforts to modernise and expand, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses continue to witness a decline in ridership, struggling to return to pre-COVID levels.

- SURUCHI KUMARI

The current daily average of 25 lakh passengers represents a 45 per cent drop over the past decade, far below the 46.77 lakh recorded during 2012-13, according to the Economic Survey of the Delhi Government 2023-24. Ridership hit its lowest during the pandemic, plummeting to 12.24 lakh daily, and remains 25 per cent below pre-pandemic numbers.

Authorities attribute the drop in bus usage partly to the rise in Delhi Metro ridership, which has increased by 12 per cent over the years. However, this comes with its challenges; an IIT-Delhi report highlights that Metro ridership still falls 47.45 per cent short of its projected targets. DTC commuters and employees point to other pressing issues.

"Bus services are unreliable, especially with traffic congestion," said Sarita Sharma, a daily commuter from Dwarka. "We often have to wait over 30 minutes, especially during peak hours. The e-buses are a good addition, but their frequency is low."