The Delhi Government will come out with the re-tendering process for buying 1,380 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses by end of this month. The previous bidding process was cancelled as the tendering had elicited only a single bidder.
Announcing this on the concluding day of “Smart Transportation Infra Summit and Expo-2015” here on Saturday, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the details of the re-tendering process were being finalised.
“The new process will have relaxed tendering conditions to attract many more bidders, as Delhi is one of the few metros in which only CNG guzzling buses are permitted to ply,” said Mr. Rai, adding that the re-tendering would fall in public domain by July-end.
Mr. Rai said that Delhi Government was also exploring the scope for introduction of comfort taxis, comfort mini buses and battery-run buses for Delhiites as alternative modes of transport to the existing auto rickshaw system. This will ensure easier access of commuters to convenient and affordable facilities.
“The new arrangement will be known as comfortable mini transport system which would be slightly bigger and heavier than the autos. It will solve problem of lack of last mile connectivity to a significant extent,” said the Minister.
Mr. Rai said the Delhi Government would also buy as many as 3,000 luxury buses equipped with GPS and CCTV facilities for transporting commuters within the National Capital Region from their homes to offices and vice versa.
The summit was organised by the Delhi and NCR Committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Committee chairman Rajnish Goenka said the people of Delhi would be educated for bringing positive change in their mindset for the use of mass transport system to check traffic congestion.
