New Delhi, February 27 The Delhi government launched a double-decker bus service on Friday aimed at boosting tourism in the national capital, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurating the vehicles.
The chief minister, along with Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra and other department officials, took a ride on an electric double-decker bus from Rafi Marg to the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya after the launch.
The tourism department will operate the bus on a fixed route connecting key landmarks in central Delhi. The proposed route includes the Bharat Mandapam, the National War Memorial, the new Parliament complex, Dilli Haat, and other prominent sites, a senior official said.
Evening tours are also planned, and the route has largely been finalized, he added, noting that since the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya closes at 6 pm, the tour will begin from the museum and then proceed to other destinations.
The double-decker bus can accommodate over 63 passengers, in addition to the driver. The official said that the service is intended for both domestic and foreign tourists, and has been designed to operate in Lutyens' Delhi, without any issues related to overhead electric wires or low tree canopies.
The fare has been fixed at Rs 500 for adults and Rs 300 for children between six and twelve years of age. A trained guide will be on board to brief passengers on the historical and cultural significance of the locations covered during the tour, officials said.
Two double-decker buses are planned to be made operational as part of the initiative. This launch marks a revival of a format once familiar to Delhiites, as double-decker buses were previously operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation as 'Suvidha' services before being phased out in 1989 due to the withdrawal of an aging fleet.