In a significant development, the Delhi Government notified the Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023, marking a historic milestone in India’s transportation sector. The scheme marks a historic moment as it introduces the nation’s first-ever aggregator scheme exclusively tailored for premium buses.
Commenting on this development, the Transport Minister of Delhi Shri Kailash Gahlot said “The notification of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023, marks a historic moment for the national capital. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, it is a visionary step toward transforming public transportation and reducing the burden of congestion and pollution. These premium buses are a testament to our commitment to providing world-class, comfortable, and sustainable travel options to the people of Delhi. With the introduction of this scheme, we are not just connecting destinations; we are paving the way to a greener and smarter future. Our focus is clear: offer the best quality service while safeguarding the environment.”
The scheme has set ambitious goals aimed at encouraging a modal shift in public transportation for intra-city journeys through premium bus services. These services are designed to offer exceptional quality, comfort, and reliability, thereby reducing congestion and air pollution in the city while promoting sustainable and convenient public transportation. The scheme defines the “Premium Bus” as any luxury public bus having seating capacity of not less than 09 passengers with is fully air conditioned having pre reserved reclining seats along with having Wifi, GPS and CCTV.
Eligibility criteria to obtain license under the scheme
To be eligible for a license, applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in operating and managing vehicles in public or shared transportation. They are required to maintain a fleet of a minimum of 100 passenger buses annually, or 1000 passenger cars annually, or a mixed fleet comprising a minimum of 100 buses and calculated at 10 cars equivalent to 1 bus. License applicants shall adhere to all applicable conditions related to the use of passenger vehicles, similar to the case of contract carriage buses. The scheme stipulates that the onboarded bus shall not be more than 3 years old, in case the bus is CNG and the buses joining the service after January 1, 2025, must be electric. The scheme requires that the applicants must have a corporate or branch office located within the National Capital Region (NCR).
Aggregator License details
Under the scheme, the Aggregator licenses shall be granted upon the payment of ₹5,00,000 and will be valid for a five-year period. Renewals for another five years can be acquired before the expiry by paying ₹2,500. Further, no license fee shall be levied on electric buses, furthering the cause of clean and sustainable transportation in Delhi. Further, the license holders are required to operate and maintain a fleet of at least 25 premium buses of mini, midi, or standard sizes, to be made operational within 90 days from the date of license grant.
Key Features
Flexible Routes: License holders have the flexibility to determine potential routes for operating their premium buses.
Dynamic Fares: Fares are dynamic and shall not be lower than the peak fare of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) AC buses.
Digital Ticketing: Only pre-booked digital ticketing is permissible, with no physical tickets issued. All charges from passengers are to be collected exclusively through electronic or digital payment modes.
